ICMR-sponsored project on screening of sickle cell disease in Udalguri

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is carrying out a screening and management of sickle cell disease in Udalguri district, a common hereditary disorder of blood present in many tribes of India. An ICMR sponsored programme aimed at strengthening of health system of Paneri and Dimakuchi Public Health Centres (PHCs) of Udalguri district for screening and management of sickle cell disease was inaugurated at Dimakuchi College auditorium hall in Udalguri district on Wednesday.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Principal Investigator, ICMR-NTF Project Head and Head of the Department (HoD) of Department of Biotechnology ,Bodoland University, Dr. JatinSarmah said, "Inherited genetic diseases or rare diseases refer to medical conditions that affect a small percentage of the population but has vast, debilitating and often life-threatening effects on the patients, many of whom are in the paediatric age group." "Treatments of sickle cell disease has long been neglected by the traditional pharmaceutical industry because of the notion that it will have uncertain or poor commercial outcome given the smaller affected population size," he added.

The event was formally inaugurated by Paneri legislator KamaliBasumatary in an event attended by Joint Director of Health and Services, Udalguri, Dr. TayeburRahman; Scientist-C,ICMR NTF Project, Department of Biotechnology, Bodoland University, Dr. ChintuRonghanpi; Research Assistants, ICMR NTF Project, Department of Biotechnology, IlloraNarzary and DwarikaChouhan and Laboratory Technician, ICMR NTF Project, Department of Biotechnology, AnkurSarma.

Speaking on the occasion, SDO(C) Bhergaon, Gokul Chandra Brahma stressed the need of creating awareness among the population on the symptoms of the sickle cell disease and the need of its early prevention. Paneri legislator KamaliBasumatary, while lauding the efforts of ICMR for undertaking the project, also released the Information Education and Communication materials and handed over the equipments for screening of sickle cell disease to Paneri and Dimakuchi Primary Health Centre (PHC).

The screening and management of sickle cell disease in Udalguri district is part of a national-level research-cum-intervention project entitled 'Improving the Capacity of Health System and Community for Sickle cell disease Screening and Management in Scheduled Tribal Population: An Intervention Study' which is underway in Udalguri district since August 16, 2019 along with Annupur district of Madhya Pradesh; Chhoteudepur district of Gujarat; Kalahandi district of Odisha ,Mysuru district of Karnataka and Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh.

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