Ranchi
In a unique initiative of the Khunti district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Lokesh Mishra, for the first time pension has been approved for persons suffering from sickle cell anemia under Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swawlamban Protsahan Scheme.
In the first phase, nine persons, 3 from Khunti block, 3 from Karra, 2 from Murhu and 1 from Torpa, will be covered. Under this scheme implemented by the district Social Security Cell, an amount of Rs 1000 per month will be given to the beneficiaries for life. Khunti district is some 35 km from State capital Ranchi
Till now, sickle cell screening of 99,165 persons has been done in the district. Of them, 114 were found to be carriers of sickle cell while a total of 46 persons were found to be suffering from sickle cell anemia-thalassemia disease. Nine persons who are suffering from 40 percent or more sickle cell anemia-thalassemia disease are to be given pension under Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swavalamban Protsahan Yojana on the basis of disability certificate, officials said.
At present, while on one hand the life expectancy of people has increased due to health facilities, on the other the tribal population is suffering from various diseases like sickle cell anemia which is very widespread.
It is a hereditary blood-related disease that is a group of disorders affecting the production of hemoglobin. Given its fatal impact on the affected persons, sickle cell anemia-thalassemia screening/checking camps were organized in all the blocks of Khunti district with sickle cell mobile medical vans continuously visiting remote rural areas in the district.
A sickle cell anemia-thalassemia-Day Care Centre is being run in Sadar Hospital, Khunti with the objective of providing proper medical facilities to people suffering from sickle cell anemia. Free medical consultation, treatment, medicines and blood are being provided to an average of 15 people suffering from sickle cell anemia-thalassemia every month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on July 1, 2023, launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) from Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh. Members of the Scheduled Tribes are the most affected with the disease in India. As many as 2.5 lakh children and families are affected by the Sickle Cell Disease in the country.
