SickleCellAwareness – President Murmu Highlights Progress in National Screening Drive

SickleCellAwareness –  President Droupadi Murmu on Friday attended the International Sickle Cell Day observance at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, where she highlighted the country’s ongoing efforts to tackle sickle cell disease through large-scale screening and awareness initiatives. Addressing the gathering, she described the occasion as an important step in confronting a major public health concern and acknowledged the progress achieved under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.

Nationwide Screening Achieves Key Milestone

The President expressed satisfaction that the screening target set under the national mission had been achieved ahead of schedule. She noted that the programme has successfully screened nearly seven crore individuals, ranging from newborn children to adults up to 40 years of age. According to her, the scale of the exercise places it among the largest genetic disease screening campaigns undertaken anywhere in the world.

She emphasized that such extensive screening efforts demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving preventive healthcare and identifying inherited disorders at an early stage.

Significant Detection and Identification Efforts

Speaking about the outcomes of the initiative, President Murmu said the mission-mode approach has led to the identification of around 2.5 lakh people affected by sickle cell disease. In addition, more than 20 lakh individuals have been identified as carriers of the genetic condition.

She pointed out that the large number of carriers presents its own set of challenges and requires sustained attention from healthcare authorities. Early identification, she said, is crucial in reducing the long-term impact of the disease and helping affected families access timely medical support.

Focus on Healthcare Support Systems

The President praised both the Central and State governments for extending their efforts beyond detection and diagnosis. She said that ensuring appropriate treatment, counselling, and healthcare services for patients and carriers is equally important in addressing the burden of the disease.

She observed that coordinated action between different levels of government has strengthened healthcare delivery and improved awareness in regions where the disease is more prevalent.

Madhya Pradesh Recognised for Special Initiative

During her address, President Murmu also commended the contribution of Madhya Pradesh in advancing awareness and screening programmes. She highlighted the achievements of the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan,” conducted between September 17 and October 2, 2025.

Under the campaign, more than four lakh women underwent screening, setting a notable benchmark in public health outreach. The President described the effort as an important contribution toward understanding and managing sickle cell disease among vulnerable communities.

Community Participation Strengthening Awareness

The President further referred to the “Sickle Mitra” initiative launched by the Madhya Pradesh government on International Sickle Cell Day last year. The programme has involved representatives from government departments, non-government organisations, voluntary groups, and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets.

These participants have received training aimed at spreading awareness about the disease, guiding families, and supporting patients in accessing available healthcare services. She said such community-driven initiatives play a vital role in expanding awareness and encouraging early diagnosis.

Confidence in Achieving National Goal

Concluding her address, President Murmu expressed confidence that collective efforts by states, healthcare institutions, community organisations, and citizens would help India overcome the challenge posed by sickle cell disease.

She said the country is moving steadily toward its objective of eliminating the burden of sickle cell-related diseases and voiced optimism that the national target could be achieved well before 2047 through continued cooperation and public participation.