Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived to participate in a program organized in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission 2047 on Saturday (July 1). The disease has been a cause of serious concern for the entire country, especially the tribal people. According to an estimate, this serious disease is being seen in more than seven crore tribal people. Keeping in mind the risks of this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the Budget 2023 speech had set a target of eradicating this disease from India by the year 2047. In this sequence, Prime Minister Modi has started the mission.

Sickle cell anemia is a blood-related disorder. It is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is thought to be related to defective hemoglobin, in which the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the tissues is interrupted, which causes many serious diseases.

Let us know in detail about this disease.
Know about sickle cell anemia
Normally, red blood cells (RBCs) with healthy hemoglobin are smooth, disc-shaped, and flexible, like a doughnut. However, cells with sickle cell hemoglobin become hard and sticky, which can affect the transport of oxygen. These cells stick together and can block the movement of oxygen-carrying blood.

This disease can also increase the risk of diseases like anemia, jaundice, and stroke along with problems in blood vessels.

Why is there a problem with sickle cell anemia?
Sickle cell is an inherited disease caused by a defect or mutation in a gene that the body needs to make hemoglobin present in red blood cells, reports Johns Hopkins Medicine. It is inherited when a copy of the sickle cell gene is passed on to a child from both parents. That is, if someone in your family has already had this disease, then the risk of it happening to other people also increases considerably.

What are its symptoms?
Symptoms of sickle cell anemia usually appear at an early age. This problem can also be seen in 4-month-old babies. Normal red blood cells can live up to 120 days, but sickle cells only live for 10 to 20 days. Due to this, the risk of anemia can be very high.

People who have this disease may have to face many problems.
Extreme tiredness or weakness due to anemia.
Kidney problems, frequent bed-wetting.
Frequent jaundice.
Swelling and pain in hands and feet.
Frequent infections.
People with sickle cell anemia also have a higher risk of stroke.

How to treat and prevent sickle cell anemia
Depending on the condition of the patient with sickle cell anemia, treatment may require medications, blood transfusions, and in severe cases, a bone-marrow transplant. Treating the underlying or associated infection is the main goal of treatment. Early diagnosis and prevention of complications are important in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Treatment focuses on preventing organ damage, including stroke, and reducing the risk of infection.

Some general measures can also be effective in reducing the symptoms.
Take folic acid supplements as prescribed by your doctor.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Doing this can help your body make more RBCs.
Drink more water to reduce the risk of sickle cell anemia.
Exercise regularly and manage stress.

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