A comprehensive effort to contain sickle cell disease

Many within India’s tribal communities have been silently battling the debilitating genetic disorder known as Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

- Jagat Prakash Nadda

For decades, this condition has taken a toll on their health and socioeconomic development, exacerbated further by geographic isolation and limited access to health care. Recognising this dire need, the Union government launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) in July 2023. This groundbreaking initiative seeks to not only eliminate sickle cell genetic transmission but also restore dignity and health to millions affected by this condition.

Sickle cell disease alters the shape of red blood cells, impairing their oxygen-carrying capacity and leading to severe health complications over time. Among tribal populations, the impact is profound, as they are disproportionately affected by this genetic disorder. According to Global Burden of Disease figures (2021), an estimated 82,500 births with SCD occur in India.

The National Health Policy 2017 laid the groundwork for addressing this crisis. Building on this, the 2023 budget announced the NSCAEM, setting a target to screen 70 million individuals under 40 years by FY26. The activity was implemented under the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), making it one of the largest population-based genetic screening programmes globally. The mission also aims to eliminate genetic transmission of SCD by 2047 while providing comprehensive care to those already afflicted.