National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission marks new era in public health: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India’s National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission marks a new era in public health, from tackling a genetic disorder to ensuring equity and dignity.

In this context, the prime minister on his X handle shared Union Health Minister JP Nadda’s article on a landmark initiative aiming for a Sickle Cell Disease-free India by 2047.

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The PMO India’s X handle posted: “From tackling a genetic disorder to ensuring equity and dignity, India’s National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission marks a new era in public health.

“Union Minister Shri @JPNadda writes on this landmark initiative aiming for a Sickle Cell Disease-free India by 2047, a must-read reflection!”

Earlier, Nadda, in a post on X, said India’s fight against sickle cell anaemia is not just about addressing a genetic disorder but a commitment to equity, dignity and the health of our nation’s most marginalised communities. “Recognising this urgent need, our government, under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) in July 2023. This landmark initiative aims not only to stop the transmission of sickle cell disease but also to restore dignity and health to millions living with this condition,” the Union health minister further said in the post on X.

As India moves towards the 2047 goal of eliminating SCD with determination, the NSCAEM stands as a beacon of hope, showing what can be achieved when the government, healthcare professionals and communities work together for a common cause, he added.

“Many within India’s tribal communities have been silently battling the debilitating genetic disorder known as Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). 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,” the health minister said in his article in an English daily.

“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,” Nadda further said in his article.