Sickle cell disease is a big public health problem. Sickle cell disease can be referred to as an illness affecting red blood cells. People are born with it if either of the parents are suffering from it.  It is not a contagious disease. Our blood cells are flexible and round in shape. Sickle cell disease makes them very still and sickle shaped and that is where the disease draws its name from. People suffering from it experience episodes of pain which are high in severity. These pain filled episodes are known as sickle cell crisis. There is chronic anaemia resulting in constant tiredness, weakness, low energy and swelling in hands and feet. A person suffering from sickle cell disease is prone to health complications like acute chest syndrome, stroke, blindness, bone damage, liver damage, kidney damage, lung damage etc. Some medicines can provide relief from sickle crisis but bone marrow transplant is the cure. This is only possible if at all a suitable donor gets available. 

Prevalence of Sickle Cell disease in India

Although sickle cell disease is more prevalent in Caribbean and African populations, it is widespread in tribal populations of India. Co-inheritance of the sickle gene with HbD Punjab, β-thalassaemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been found in Indian population. If a person from a non-tribal Indian group is suffering from sickle cell disease, then his / her episodes of sickle crisis get more acute than that of the tribal population. To combat this disease from the initial stage itself newborn screening programs have been started in some states like Odisha, Chattisgarh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.  Since this disease is more prevalent in the tribal population, the National Rural Health Mission and The Indian Council of Medical Research have initiated outreach programmes for better management and control of the disease in different states.

Cure is difficult but prevention is possible 

Although a definite cure is not there, sickle cell disease can be prevented by premarital screening. World Sickle Cell Day is observed with the purpose of spreading information of what this disease is, how severe it can get and what are its treatment methods. It is also meant to make new parents aware about immunizations of children. The theme of World Sickle Cell Day 2021 is “Let's Shine the Light on Sickle Cell.”