
Raipur: Chhattisgarh has become the first state to
implement the ‘point of care test’ for confirmation of sickle cell anemia in
patients living in the remote areas of the state.
Health minister TS Singh Deo launched the pilot project for this in the five districts of the state on Friday. Now the sickle cell anemia will be identified by grassroots-level health workers even in remote and far-flung villages of the state. The villagers will no longer have to travel long distances to reach hospitals to get themselves tested.
Health workers will be trained by experts of the ICMR-Institute
of Immunohematology (IIH) Mumbai for this project being launched in five
districts of the state including Durg, Surguja, Dantewada, Korba, and Mahasamund.
The PCT technique used for this test is certified by international and national
scientific institutions.
With this technique, the sickle cell disease can be
tested and confirmed at village level only and also in Primary Healthcare
Centers (PHCs). This will reduce mortality from sickle cell disease. A timely examination of pregnant women will also help in reducing maternal and neonatal
mortality. Currently, the latest medicines for the sickle cell are available so
that the patient can lead a normal life.
The state health department has conducted large
scale screening across the state to identify suspected cases of sickle cell
anemia in the last two years. Over 1.03 lakh people have been identified during
the screening who are being provided with the necessary medicines and
treatment, the health officials said.
TS Singh Deo wrote on his official Twitter handle “It is a matter of great pleasure that Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to connect sickle cell disease management with new testing techniques, this technology will prove to be beneficial for testing sickles in remote areas”.