PM Modi launches Sickle Cell Anaemia eradication mission

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Who was Rani Durgavati?
• What is Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)?
• What happens in SCA?
• Can SCA be treated?
• SCA in India
• What has India done so far?
• News Summary: PM Modi launches Sickle Cell Anaemia eradication mission

 

Why in news?

• PM Modi launched National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission (NSCAEM) 2047 by unveiling a portal.
• At a function held at Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, the Prime Minister also announced that Rani Durgavati’s 500th birth anniversary will be celebrated across India and stamps will be released.

 

Who was Rani Durgavati?

• About
  • Rani Durgavati is said to have been born in 1524, in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty.
    • The region comes under present-day Uttar Pradesh, near the southern border with MP.
  • Her father was Raja Salbahan of Ratha and Mahoba, and the Chandelas were known for building the famous Khajuraho temples in the 11th century.
  • She was later married to Dalpat Shah, the son of the Gond King Sangram Shah of the kingdom of Garha-Katanga.
    • This kingdom included the Narmada Valley and parts of northern MP.
  • After her husband's death in 1550, she took over the reins of the kingdom and became the regent for her young son, Bir Narayan.
• Fight with Mughal
  • In 1564, the Mughal emperor Akbar sent a massive army under the command of Asaf Khan to attack the Gondwana kingdom.
  • Rani Durgavati displayed great courage and led her troops in battle. Despite her efforts, the Gondwana forces were outnumbered, and Rani Durgavati decided to make a final stand at a fortress called Chauragarh.
  • During the battle, Rani Durgavati fought valiantly but was eventually outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Mughal forces.
  • Rather than surrendering, she chose to die an honorable death.
  • According to historical accounts, Rani Durgavati performed "jauhar," a custom in which women of noble families chose self-immolation over capture or subjugation.

 

What is Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA)?

• First discovered by a physician named James Herrick, Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease (SCD).
• It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
• Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
• In someone who has SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle.

 

What happens in SCA?

• A round red blood cell can move easily through blood vessels because of its shape but sickle red blood cells end up slowing and even blocking, the blood flow.
• Moreover, sickle cells die early, resulting in a shortage of red blood cells that deprive the body of oxygen.
• These obstructions and shortages may cause chronic anaemia, pain, fatigue, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and a host of other serious health complications.

 

Can SCA be treated?

• Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic disorder, making complete elimination a challenge that requires a major scientific breakthrough.
• The only cure comes in the form of gene therapy and stem cell transplants — both costly and still in developmental stages.
  • In gene therapy, the DNA inside the haemoglobin gene is edited to stop the disease.
  • In stem cell transplants, the bone marrow affected by sickle cell anaemia is replaced with healthy bone marrow from a donor.
• Blood transfusion, wherein red blood cells are removed from donated blood and given to a patient, is also a trusted treatment in the absence of permanent cures.
• But challenges include a scarcity of donors, fears around safe supply of blood, risk of infection etc.

 

SCA in India

• India is the second-worst affected country in terms of predicted births with SCA — i.e., chances of being born with the condition.
  • In India, around 18 million people have sickle cell traits and 1.4 million patients have sickle cell disease.
• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is widespread among the tribal population in India where about 1 in 86 births among STs have SCD.
• A few states in India have a significantly higher SCD prevalence. These include:
  • Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Odisha, Kerala and Rajasthan.
  • Collectively, these states are referred to as the sickle cell belt.

 

What has India done so far?

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has launched the Sickle Cell Disease Support Corner to bridge the gap between patients and health care services in tribal areas.
  • The Portal provides a web-based patient powered registration system which will collate all information related to SCD among tribal people in India.
• The National Council on Sickle Cell Disease has also been constituted for timely and effective action.
• In the Budget 2023-24, the government announced its plans to distribute “special cards” across tribal areas to people below the age of 40.
  • The cards will be divided into different categories based on the screening results. The mission will receive funding under the National Health Mission.

 

News Summary: PM Modi launches Sickle Cell Anaemia eradication mission

• PM Modi launched National Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission (NSCAEM) 2047.
  • The mission aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population.
    • It was announced in the Union Budget 2023.
  • Through this mission, the government aims to eradicate sickle cell anemia from India in a mission mode by 2047.
• He also released a guideline for the management of the disease and different modules for its monitoring.
• At the event, the PM distributed Sickle Cell colour-coded counselling cards to a few beneficiaries.

 

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Q1) What is the Chandela dynasty known for?

The Chandela dynasty was a medieval Indian dynasty that ruled over the region of Bundelkhand in central India from the 9th to the 13th centuries. They are primarily known for their architectural marvels, particularly the famous Khajuraho temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites today. The Chandela dynasty was founded by Raja Chandravarman, who established his kingdom in the early 9th century. However, it was under his descendant, Raja Dhanga, and especially his grandson, Raja Vidyadhara, that the dynasty reached its peak.

 

Q2) What is Hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin contains iron, which allows it to pick up oxygen from the air we breathe and deliver it everywhere in the body. You can think of hemoglobin as the iron ("heme"), oxygen transport protein, ("globin") found in red blood cells.

 

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Source: PM Modi launches Sickle Cell Anaemia eradication mission | All India Radio | Indian Express