Maharashtra is among the states in India where government provides good financial support to the fight against sickle cell disease (SCD). Yet, doctors believe a lot still needs to be done.
Sickle Cell Society of India (SCSI) had organised a conference on the rights of a child affected by SCD on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day on Sunday, acting on the United Nations' call 'educate and unite' against the disease. Several parents of the affected children were present to hear some of the reputed doctors. Speakers included paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar, deputy director of health services ( DDHS) Dr Arun Amle, regional blood transfusion officer Dr Satish Jaiswal and chief of the sickle cell unit at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Dr Dipty Jain.
"We have national policies on polio, vitamin A deficiencies and several other diseases, but there is none on SCD. This is despite the fact that more than 90% of the people affected by the disease are below poverty line and cannot afford the treatment or medicine as it is very costly in private setups. These days, the disease is not limited to a few communities it was seen earlier due to factors like inter-caste marriages," said Dr Bodhankar, who is general secretary of the Commonwealth Association for Health and Disability.
GMCH centre is one of the five to run the pre-natal diagnosis project covering all major areas having communities with sickle cell anaemia in the country. "GMCH does offer world-class screening and treatment to its patients at the sickle cell unit free of charge. But, the load on us is increasing every day and we wish that the government includes more regional centres that can share this load with us," said Dr Jain.
"PHCs and hospitals at district and taluka levels have been equipped with the manpower and material required to screen SCD under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). NGOs have also come forward to help. The government is ready to invest in the fight against the disease, but we need the affected population to come forward, too," said Dr Amle.
SCSI president Sampat Ramteke agrees that the state government has always provided the necessary help. "This is the only state where affected people are issued special identity cards that allow them to have access to free blood, medicine and treatment. They are also offered a financial aid of Rs 600 per month," he said.
Sickle Cell Society of India (SCSI) had organised a conference on the rights of a child affected by SCD on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day on Sunday, acting on the United Nations' call 'educate and unite' against the disease. Several parents of the affected children were present to hear some of the reputed doctors. Speakers included paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar, deputy director of health services ( DDHS) Dr Arun Amle, regional blood transfusion officer Dr Satish Jaiswal and chief of the sickle cell unit at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Dr Dipty Jain.
"We have national policies on polio, vitamin A deficiencies and several other diseases, but there is none on SCD. This is despite the fact that more than 90% of the people affected by the disease are below poverty line and cannot afford the treatment or medicine as it is very costly in private setups. These days, the disease is not limited to a few communities it was seen earlier due to factors like inter-caste marriages," said Dr Bodhankar, who is general secretary of the Commonwealth Association for Health and Disability.
GMCH centre is one of the five to run the pre-natal diagnosis project covering all major areas having communities with sickle cell anaemia in the country. "GMCH does offer world-class screening and treatment to its patients at the sickle cell unit free of charge. But, the load on us is increasing every day and we wish that the government includes more regional centres that can share this load with us," said Dr Jain.
"PHCs and hospitals at district and taluka levels have been equipped with the manpower and material required to screen SCD under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). NGOs have also come forward to help. The government is ready to invest in the fight against the disease, but we need the affected population to come forward, too," said Dr Amle.
SCSI president Sampat Ramteke agrees that the state government has always provided the necessary help. "This is the only state where affected people are issued special identity cards that allow them to have access to free blood, medicine and treatment. They are also offered a financial aid of Rs 600 per month," he said.
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