Sickle Cell patients growing in tribal pockets of undivided Visakhapatnam district, says expert
Sickle Cell Disease is prevalent among the tribal people, particularly those living in the Agency areas of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, according to Paripandla Sridevi, an Associate Professor in the Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram.
An estimated 1% of the total population has SCD, and 4% are carriers of the sickle cell trait, Prof. Sridevi said on the eve of World Sickle Cell Day, which is observed on June 19 every year.
Prof. Sridevi has been conducting research in the tribal areas of the undivided Visakhapatnam district in the North Andhra region, for the past three years.
The research is being conducted as part of the ICMR–National Task Force Project, which has been going on for the past seven years.
The SCD is caused by sickle cell gene, a defective one which looks like a sickle.
People affected with the disease are born with two sickle cell genes—one from each parent. Those born with one sickle cell gene, called sickle cell trait, are generally healthy, but they can pass on the defective gene to their children, she said.
'Initially, Prof. Sudhakar of the Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University, has worked on the project. Then I worked on the same project in Madhya Pradesh. I have been working on the project for the past three years at Gannela, Madagada and Paderu of ASR district,' Prof. Sridevi told The Hindu.
'I have noticed that SCD patients are unable to get blood transfusions and hydroxyurea on time due to poor amenities in the tribal areas. Stigma is attached to the disease as many tribal people think it is a curse. Some others dismiss it as common anaemia. We train ASHA workers to create awareness among the tribals on the need to opt for timely treatment for SCD and to dispel the myths,' she said.
Prof. Sridevi said such research projects act as a bridge between the tribal people and the government as they bring the issues to the notice of the authorities concerned.
'We want the treatment facilities of SCD to be improved. We counsel tribal people about the dangers associated with marriages between close relations, a common practice in the Agency areas,' she said.
Quoting from data provided by ASR district DM&HO Dr. Jamal Basha, Prof. Sridevi said that 4,10,380 have been screened for sickle cell anaemia in the undivided Visakhapatnam district as on June 18. Among them, 1,488 were identified as SCD positive, 12,599 carriers and 3,80,665 were negative. The government has made arrangements for the necessary medicines and nutrition for the patients with the goal completely eradicating SCD in Andhra Pradesh by 2047.
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