Odisha Reinforces Commitment to Sickle Cell Elimination Mission on World Awareness Day

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government marked World Sickle Cell Awareness Day with a state-level programme at IMA House in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, reinforcing its resolve to eliminate Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) by 2047. Organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with UNICEF, the event brought together senior health officials, experts, and stakeholders to spotlight the state’s focused strategy under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM).

In her address, Dr. Brundha D., IAS, Mission Director of NHM Odisha, noted that Odisha has a higher burden of sickle cell and thalassemia than most Indian states. She emphasized that the government is working with urgency to meet its ambitious screening targets. “We were given a target of two lakh screenings each year under NSCAEM. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our frontline workers, we’ve already completed 75 percent of the target. Our integrated approach — from early screening to awareness generation — aims to reduce the disease burden, especially among vulnerable tribal populations,” she said.

UNICEF Odisha’s Officer in Charge, Manna Biswas, praised Odisha’s achievement of screening over 4 million individuals for SCD but urged further efforts to combat stigma and ensure early diagnosis. “UNICEF remains committed to supporting Odisha through capacity building and community mobilisation. Our shared goal is a future free from sickle cell disease, guided by values of equity, inclusion, and compassion,” he stated.

The programme featured powerful video stories and live testimonies from individuals living with SCD, showcasing their resilience and the positive impact of early detection and treatment. These narratives, drawn from remote and tribal communities, reflected the transformative power of timely health interventions and community support.

To enhance outreach, the state launched a comprehensive IEC package including posters, radio jingles, animated videos, and patient information booklets. These materials are designed to raise awareness, promote behavioural change, and reduce the stigma around genetic blood disorders.

During the event, high-performing districts were felicitated for their outstanding screening efforts. Several medical professionals and dedicated frontline health workers were also honoured for their contributions to SCD management in Odisha. Senior officials including Dr. Jeetendra Mohan Bebortha, Special Secretary (Public Health), Dr. Pradeep Kumar Patro, Director Blood Safety, Dr. Dilip Kumar Panda, Director SIH&FW, and Prof. Umakant Satapathy, Additional Director, DMET, participated in the ceremony.