**Summary:**
As of July 30, 2025, under the Sickle Cell Mission 2047, the Government of Gujarat reported screening 2,033,471 individuals in the Dahod district, identifying 5,656 confirmed cases of sickle cell disease. The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) conducts screenings at all health facilities, from District Hospitals to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), nationwide. Patients receive follow-up care, lifestyle and family planning counseling, folic acid supplementation, yoga and wellness sessions, and crisis management with referrals as needed. Hydroxyurea is included in the National Health Mission (NHM) Essential Drugs List and financial support is provided under NHM for its procurement to reduce patient costs. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has developed awareness and counseling materials, and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities are used to promote awareness of the disease, screening, and management. State governments play a crucial role in implementing mission activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Sickle Cell Mission 2047: A government mission focused on addressing sickle cell disease, with a target year of 2047.
Dahod district, Gujarat: A district in the state of Gujarat, India, where screenings for sickle cell disease were conducted under the Sickle Cell Mission 2047.
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM): A national program aimed at eliminating sickle cell anemia in India.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM): A type of health facility providing services for sickle cell disease patients, ranging from screening to management.
National Health Mission (NHM): A national health program that provides financial support for the procurement of Hydroxyurea for sickle cell anemia patients.
Hydroxyurea: A medication included in the National Health Mission Essential Drugs List to address access to medicine for sickle cell disease.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: A government ministry involved in developing awareness and counseling material related to sickle cell disease.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.†3258
TO BE ANSWERED ON8th AUGUST,2025
SICKLE CELLMISSION2047
†3258.SHRIJASWANTSINH SUMANBHAI BHABHOR:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the number of persons for whom have been screened and the number of patients
identifiedinDahod district under “SickleCell Mission 2047”;
(b) the types of special facilities provided by the Government in the Civil Hospital and
otherhealthcentresof the said district for sickle cellpatients; and
(c) whether anyspecial campaign has been launched to raise awareness among the tribal
communityinthe country andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)to (c): As informed byGovernment of Gujarat,as on30.07.2025,a total of 20,33,471
population have been screened in Dahod district, out of which, 5,656 have been
confirmedasdiseased.
Under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), screenings are
conducted at all health facilities from District Hospitals upto Ayushman Arogya Mandir
(AAM) level across the country. Patients living with SCD are provided with the
following services/ facilities for improvingtheirqualityof life through AAMs:
Follow-upof diseased individualsat frequent intervals.
Counseling regarding lifestyle management, pre-marriage and pre-natal
decisions.
Nutritional supplementation support through distribution of folic acidtablets.
Conductingyoga andwellness sessions.
Management of crisis symptoms andreferral tohigherfacilities.
Hydroxyurea has beenincluded in National Health Mission (NHM) Essential Drugs List
at Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHC)/ Urban PHC, Community Health
Centres (CHC) and District Hospitals to address the issue of access to medicine. Under
NHM, financial support is provided for the procurement of Hydroxyurea, to reduce theout-of-pocket expenditure borne by sickle cellanaemiapatients.
Through Ministry of Tribal Affairs, awareness and counseling material have been
developed.IEC andmedia activitiesare adoptedfor propagationofawareness of disease,
screening and management. State Govts. have to play an important role in
implementation of mission activities.
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