Free Screening for Affected Children, Treatment Also to Remain Completely Free
Raipur, April 7, 2025 / Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai today inaugurated the Sickle Cell, Thalassemia Counseling Awareness, and HLA Matching Camp at the District Hospital, Jashpur. On this occasion, he met with children suffering from sickle cell and thalassemia and their families, inquiring about their treatment. This special camp saw participation not only from Jashpur district but also from neighboring districts of Balrampur, Sarguja, Surajpur, and Gumla district of Jharkhand, with children affected by sickle cell and thalassemia, along with their families.
Specialist Doctors Arrive from Bangalore, Free HLA DNA Test Conducted
In the camp, Dr. Sunil Bhatt, a bone marrow transplant specialist from Narayana Hospital in Bangalore, provided free HLA DNA testing and counseling for children up to 12 years of age. This test is essential for identifying suitable donors for bone marrow transplants.
Complete Treatment, Including Expensive Tests Conducted Abroad, Now Free
At the camp, Mrs. Kajal Suresh Sachdev of Kaas Foundation, educated children and families about sickle cell and thalassemia. She explained that the Chhattisgarh government is not only providing free essential medicines and testing facilities for children suffering from these diseases but also making the extremely expensive HLA DNA test conducted in Germany and complex procedures like bone marrow transplants in leading hospitals of the country completely free.
Under the National Sickle Cell and Anemia Eradication Mission, 209 sickle cell and thalassemia patients in the 0-15 age group have been identified in Jashpur district. HLA DNA tests have been conducted on 110 of these children and they have been selected for transplants, out of which 8 children have so far undergone successful free bone marrow transplants.
Notably, under the National Sickle Cell and Anemia Eradication Mission, effective work is being done in the district towards the elimination of sickle cell through the joint efforts of the district administration, health department, UNICEF, Sangwari Sanstha, and Kaas Foundation.
On this occasion, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Shri Rampratap Singh, Vice Chairman of Municipality Shri Yashpratap Singh Judeo, Shri Bharat Singh, Divisional Commissioner Shri Narendra Dugga, IG Shri Ankit Garg, Collector Shri Rohit Vyas, SSP Shri Shashi Mohan Singh, along with other public representatives were present.