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Odisha government has directed intensified efforts to combat sickle cell disease and thalassemia

in Health, State News August 20, 2025 Comments Off on Odisha government has directed intensified efforts to combat sickle cell disease and thalassemia 825 Views

Bhubaneswar:20/8/25:The Odisha government has directed intensified efforts to combat sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia, with special focus on high-risk zones of the state.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S. issued this directive while reviewing the progress of the ongoing programme at a high-level meeting held at Lokseba Bhawan on Monday.

Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Brundha D., highlighted that 21 districts of Odisha— including Angul, Balangir, Balasore, Bargarh, Boudh, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundargarh—are currently covered under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. Screening is being conducted through multiple platforms such as schools, anganwadi centres, antenatal care camps, mobile health units in tribal areas, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in urban centres. In addition, nine other low-risk districts also have screening facilities at health centres.

Since the programme’s launch in July 2023, around 46.65 lakh people have been screened against the cumulative target of 1.08 crore by 2025-26. Of these, 97,501 sickle cell cases and over 4.11 lakh carriers have been identified. All identified patients are receiving free treatment in government hospitals.

The government has rolled out several welfare measures for SCD patients. Each registered patient receives Rs 500 per month towards transportation expenses, free medicines, and exemption from blood service charges. Free blood packs are also provided, and children under 12 years of age are eligible for financial assistance up to Rs 10 lakh for bone marrow transplants.

Senior officials, including Special Secretary Health & FW Dr. Bijaya Mohapatra, Special Secretary Smita Biswal, Director Family Welfare Dr. Biswamohan Mishra, Additional Secretary Srikanta Majhi and others, participated in the meeting.

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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