A team from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) visited the Haematology Department at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, to assess its potential for development as a one-stop centre for the treatment of sickle cell anemia. Odisha is among the States most affected by the disease in India.
Odisha leads the country in the prevalence of sickle cell disease, with 89,329 individuals diagnosed from 47,62,739 screenings, translating to a disease rate of 1.88%. This is significantly higher than the national average of 0.38%. The State also tops the list in the number of carriers, with 3,66,289 individuals, representing 7.69% of the population — far exceeding the national average of 2.64%. No other State comes close to Odisha in terms of both the percentage of those affected and carriers.
As per reply furnished by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on November 29 in the Lok Sabha, the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) was launched in 2023 and a total of 4,75,42,776 people, including 1,98,62,568 in the tribal-dominated areas of 17 identified States have been screened.
“A one-stop centre for sickle cell treatment will be established at SCB Medical College Hospital, offering comprehensive care under one roof. The centre will be equipped with essential medical equipment, and staff will undergo specialized training to enhance their skills. It will provide a range of services, including patient care, diagnostic testing, ICU facilities, dedicated wards, and on-site medicine distribution, ensuring holistic and streamlined treatment,” said R.K. Jena, an eminent professor of Haematology with Department of Clinical Haematology of SCB Medical College.
The UNICEF team and a team from the National Health Mission jointly visited SCB Medical College Hospital and inspected the infrastructure of the Haematology Department laboratory, day care centre, ward, bone marrow transplant centre, and Gynaecology Department.
The team members discussed how to provide better facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of sickle cell diseases.
“The Hematology Department of SCB Medical College Hospital, which has been declared a Center of Competence (COC), is conducting treatment, study and research on blood diseases,” said Prof. Jena.
As per guidelines of the Government of India, the National Health Mission provides additional staff and infrastructure for the COC.
“A high-end molecular testing machine will soon be installed in the Hematology Department. Under the ambitious flagship programme of the Central government, the target of eliminating sickle cell disease by 2047 has been set. Under this programme, a one-stop centre will be opened at SCB Medical College and the Central government has sanctioned ₹4.6 crore for this,” he said.
All the medical college hospitals in the State will be provided with the necessary testing facilities for the diagnosis of sickle cell diseases. At present, 21 district head hospitals have the necessary testing facilities for the diagnosis of sickle cell disease. The team held discussions with Dr. Sudha Sethi, head of the Department of Haematology.
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