In 2006 the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Gujarat initiated the Sickle Cell Anaemia Control programme to limit the spread of sickle cell anaemia, a genetic blood disorder, in the tribal belt of the state.

The Sickle Cell Anaemia Control Programme uses a three fold approach to address sickle-cell disorder. It involves early screening of patients, administration of treatment and counselling for preventing and managing the disease. The initiative covers all the 12 tribal districts of Gujarat.

From 2006 till March 2011, a total of 13, 96, 904 tribal people have been screened under the programme. The screening helped in identifying 10, 673 sickle disease patients and aided in ensuring that adequate treatment and guidance is delivered to the victims.

Other states in India where the disease is highly prevalent can learn from Gujarat’s example and follow its foot steps to launch similar disease control programmes.

This case study was published in September 2011.