Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)

In  News 

  • African health ministers launched a campaign to ramp up awareness, bolster prevention and care to curb the toll of sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD)

  • About: 
    • It is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Red blood carries  oxygen to all parts of the body.
    • Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
    •  In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.”
    • The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.
  • Types:
    • There are several types of SCD. The specific type of SCD a person has depends on the genes they inherited from their parents. People with SCD inherit genes that contain instructions, or code, for abnormal hemoglobin.
  • Cause:
    • SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two genes—one from each parent—that code for abnormal hemoglobin.
  • Prevention: 
    • Management of SCD is focused on preventing and treating pain episodes and other complications. Prevention strategies include lifestyle behaviors as well as medical screening and interventions to prevent SCD complications.
  • Recent Initiatives:
    • The Unmukt Project is being implemented by the Central Government to strengthen screening and timely management of Sickle Cell Anemia.
    • The Tribal Affairs Ministry established the National Council on Sickle Cell Disease and Tribal Health Cell, which would coordinate with the Ministry of Health and State Governments. 
    • The Tribal Affairs Ministry,  through development of Sickle Cell Support Corner, has instituted a mechanism for creating a Central Repository of data.
 
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