Bhubaneswar – To raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD), the Odisha government observed World Sickle Cell Awareness Day at IMA House in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. This event, organized by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, in collaboration with UNICEF, underscores its strong commitment to the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) 2047, which focuses on prevention, screening, management, and awareness, particularly in tribal-dominated regions where the prevalence of SCD is high.
Addressing the event, Dr. Brundha D., IAS, Mission Director, NHM, Government of Odisha, highlighted the state’s focused strategy. “We know that in Odisha, the prevalence of sickle cell and thalassemia is higher than in other states,” she stated. “As per the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) 2047, we were given a target of two lakh screenings every year. Initially, we focused on aggressive screening, followed by management and IEC. With the invaluable support of our frontline workers, we’ve already achieved 75 percent of our target in screening.”
“Our integrated approach, combining enhanced screening, widespread awareness, and robust community engagement, aims to alleviate the burden of SCD and significantly improve the lives of our citizens, particularly in vulnerable communities. “Sheadded.
“Odisha’s screening of over 4 million individuals for Sickle Cell Disease is commendable, however, we must overcome the social challenges of stigma and late diagnosis. UNICEF is proud to support the NSCAEM 2047 through capacity building and community mobilization, especially in tribal areas, to ensure early detection and management, ultimately working towards a sickle cell-free future,” said Manna Biswas, Officer in Charge, UNICEF Odisha.
He further added, UNICEF supports a public health response to SCD that prioritizes early detection, access to care, and supportive services for affected families. Our engagement is guided by values of equity, compassion, inclusion, and community engagement.
The event featured touching success stories shared by some of the SCD warriors through videos and live testimonies, offering hope and demonstrating resilience. Voices from the field, highlighting ground-level impacts, are also being screened. In addition to this, the Commissioner-Cum-Secretary, H&FW Dept., released comprehensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials like posters, radio jingles, animation videos, and patient booklets, aiming to boost public awareness significantly.
In the event, the first- and second-best screening districts were felicitated for their exemplary work. Leading medical professionals dedicated frontline workers, and individuals bravely living with SCD were honoured for their invaluable contributions, including experts from premier medical institutions across Odisha.
Dr Jeetendra Mohan Bebortha, Spl Secy (PH), H&W Dept. Gov. of Odisha, , Dr Pradeep Kumar Patro, Director Blood safety, Odisha, Dr Dilip Kumar Panda, Director SIH&FWS, Odisha, Prof, Umakant Satapathy, Addl.DirectorDMET, Odisha, were present at the event .
