Hyderabad, July 14 (Hydnow): Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu today highlighted the importance of preventive measures to address the huge burden of genetic diseases like thalassemia and sickle cell anemia in the country. He wanted the states to undertake mass screening of the children for early identification and management of genetic disorders.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Research Laboratory, Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory, and 2nd Blood Transfusion Unit at the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) in Hyderabad today, the Vice President urged the private sector and NGOs to complement the government’s efforts in combating genetic diseases.
Recognizing that the available treatment options for these genetic conditions– bone marrow transplantation or regular blood transfusion – are cost-intensive and distressing to the child, Naidu called for a comprehensive approach to address the health challenge of Thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
Mentioning that around 10-15 thousand babies are born every year with Thalassemia in India, the Vice President said that lack of awareness of these genetic diseases is a major impediment in their prevention and early diagnosis.
Therefore, he urged all stakeholders – doctors, teachers, public figures, community leaders, and media – to spread awareness of Thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Complimenting TSCS for providing free treatment to patients suffering from these genetic diseases, Naidu wanted the private sector to set up more diagnosis and treatment facilities, especially in tier two and three cities and rural areas to make healthcare accessible to all.
Describing gene disorders as a major health concern in the country, the Vice President said that they impose a heavy economic and emotional burden on the affected families. Statistics show that the prevalence of beta- Thalassemia is in the range of 2.9 to 4.6% in India whereas sickle cell anemia is more prevalent among lower socio-economic sections of society, ranging from 5 to 40 % among the tribal populations.
Next Story:
-
Chhatriwali Movie Review: Rakul Preet Singh’s film is informative but lags in bits
I could never wrap my head around Bollywood’s obsession with continuously addressing condom as a chhatri or an umbrella. Not only it’s cringe to hear repeatedly but also, it somewhere defeats the whole purpose with which films around these subjects are made. Moreover, picking a taboo subject and making a film on it can turn out to be quite risky if you don’t stick to the agenda and beat around the bush. Thankfully, Rakul Preet Singh’s Chhatriwali, directed by Tejas Prabhaa Vijay Deoskar, doesn’t digress much, and follows a crisp screenplay. There are some flaws here and there, but with all the humour and lighter moments, they can be somewhat overlooked.
-
Mission Majnu Movie Review
A dirty bomb in the possession of an unstable democracy could be lethal. How it was stopped in its tracks is the story of Mission Majnu, which starts by saying that it is ‘inspired by true events’.
-
BRS Opposes ECI Proposal for Remote EVMs in Elections
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has vehemently opposed the Election Commission of India’s proposal of remote EVMs (RVMs) to enable domestic migrants to vote remotely in the elections being held in their home States or constituencies. The party will submit its stand to the ECI in writing before January 30 and will raise its objections after discussing it within the party.
-
No Covid Case Reported in Delhi For the 1st Time
The national capital recorded no new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the first time since the pandemic began in March 2020, stated a bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department on Monday.
-
PM Modi Extends Greetings on Indian Army Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his best wishes to all army personnel, veterans, and their families on the occasion of Army Day.
Now you can get latest stories from Hydnow everyday. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Hydnow Facebook page and Twitter and on Instagram