It is necessary for citizens to imbibe information about precautions for the elimination of sickle cell: Deputy Chief Minister Shri Shukla

Bhopal: Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla reviewed the activities of Hemoglobinopathy Mission and the operation of ambulance service in the state at the NHM office. The Deputy Chief Minister said that it is very important for citizens to be aware and vigilant about precautions for the elimination of sickle cell anemia. He reviewed the work being done under the Hemoglobinopathy Mission and directed to evaluate the awareness activities conducted for the prevention and treatment of sickle cell patients and citizens of vulnerable areas at the field level. Ensure that every citizen of the affected area understands and assimilates it. So that sickle cell anemia can be eradicated from its roots.Deputy Chief Minister Shri Shukla was informed that currently the screening of sickle patients is being done in 33 districts of the state. More than 59 lakh citizens have been screened, out of which 1 lakh 34 thousand citizens have been found to be sickle cell carriers and 20 thousand 526 sickle cell anemia patients. Sickle cell cards have been distributed to 32 lakh 37 thousand 842 persons. For the treatment and management of patients, 6 to 10 bedded integrated treatment centers have been set up in the identified districts and hydroxyurea, folic acid medicines are being distributed to the patients along with management and treatment. Integrated treatment centers have the facility of free and replacement free and safe blood. In the year 2024-25, about 9 lakh 22 thousand 500 hydroxyurea have been distributed to sickle cell patients and 3 thousand 37 units of free blood have been transfused.The Deputy Chief Minister obtained information about the ambulance operation system in the state and directed to provide ambulance service to the citizens in a convenient manner. It is noteworthy that on an average, ambulance service is provided to 9300 beneficiaries daily in the state. Out of which about 5000 cases are of basic and advanced life support and about 4200 cases are related to ambulance service provision to pregnant women and children. The response time in urban areas is 18 minutes, while the response time in rural areas is 25 minutes. In the state, 167 advanced life support, 835 basic life support and 1059 Janani ambulances are providing service through a total of 2061 ambulance vehicles. MD NHM Priyanka Das, Director NHM KK Rawat and departmental officers were present in the meeting. Post Views: 30