Less than two percent of 9.75 lakh screened residents are found with sickle cell disease in two tribal districts- Alirajpur and Jhabua under state hemoglobinopathy mission.
The records from National Health Mission-MP showed that only 18725 (1.91%) residents cumulatively from Alirajpur and Jhabua were found with sickle cell traits.
The numbers are even less in case of those found suffering from sickle cell disease in those two tribal districts. Only 1997 persons (0.20%) were found suffering from sickle cell disease in Alirajpur and Jhabua among those screened, showed records.
These two districts are among the pilot projects in the first phase of a mission established in June last year in the state for screening of prevalence of sickle cell anemia in the Population. The project for screening began in February this year.
The target was to screen 8.26 lakh population (7.69 lakh children below 18 years and 0.56 lakh pregnant Women) from 12 blocks of two districts in the mission in six months, showed records.
In the project, the health authorities have taken help from Jan Abhiyan Parishad members, NGOs working in the area, volunteers, and staffers for carrying out door-to-door awareness and screening activities.