New Delhi: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has organized observance of world sickle cell day in collaboration with Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair, AIIMS Delhi on 19th June 2025.
Sickle cell anaemia
This is a genetic disorder causing a debilitating systemic syndrome characterized by chronic anaemia, acute painful episodes, blockade of blood vessels, and organ damage along with the significant reduction in life expectancy. The disease is predominantly seen among tribal people in the country.
Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission: The National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia was launched on July 1st, 2023 by Hon’ble Prime Minister at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. Ministry of Tribal affairs (MoTA) is supporting Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in the Mission, through awareness generation activities among tribal populations.
World Sickle Cell Day: 19th June is annually observed as world sickle cell day with the intension to educate the public about the disease, its impact, and the importance of early diagnosis and management.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has organized an event on the occasion of world sickle cell day at AIIMS Delhi, the event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister of states for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey. The MoS has stressed the need to create more awareness about the disease to achieve the Mission objectives. He emphasized the government’s commitment towards improving the treatment facilities in all peripheral hospitals, with special focus on tribal dominated areas. With better care and management sickle cell patients can lead a more healthy and meaningful life. He pointed out that the Ministry through its outreach programs is trying to reduce the stigma associated with the disease. The Minister further made the following announcements:
- Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize for development of drug for sickle cell disease: There is only a single drug available as on date for the management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). There is currently no option to select a drug from a spectrum of drugs options for management of a patient, depending on his/her body conditions and severity of the disease. This problem gets augmented in special situations like pregnancy, other serious medical conditions etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a new drug/s for the management of the disease. The Ministry in collaboration with AIIMS Delhi will undertake a competition for drug development, the selected proposal will be funded up to Rs 10 crores for the drug development.
- National Tribal Health and Research Institute: The Ministry will establish an advanced Centre for Tribal health and Research Institute under AIIMS Delhi. The proposed institute will act as an advanced research Centre for diseases particularly predominant among tribal people, the Centre will guide the Government in policy formulations also. This Centre will also have an outpatient and inpatient facilities for providing highest quality medical care to tribal people. Provisions for seamless referrals from peripheral hospitals in tribal dominated areas will be explored.
- Post graduate course in tribal medicine: This proposal aims to address the long-standing health inequities faced by tribal communities, who often remain underserved due to geographical, socio-cultural, and systemic barriers. This specialized course will be designed to develop a cadre of medical professionals with contextual knowledge, clinical skills, and public health competencies tailored to tribal settings.
The Secretary (Tribal Affairs) Shri Vibhu Nayar also attended the event, he stressed the commitment of the Ministry to improve the access to health care to people affected sickle cell anaemia. The ministry has already sanctioned Centre of Competence (CoC) in 15 tertiary care hospitals, including AIIMS across the country. These CoCs provide state of the art diagnostic and management of SCD, including ante-natal diagnosis. Dr (Prof) M. Srinivas the Director AIIMS Delhi expressed the commitment of his institution towards health and wellbeing of tribal people and assured full support to the efforts of the Ministry in this respect.
The Minister of State also interacted with patients of sickle cell anaemia and their families. These people from different parts of the country are currently residing and receiving treatment in Delhi. The Minister assured them of all support of Central and state governments; he further assured them about the free availability of all medicines associated with the management of SCD.
As part of World Sickle Cell Day, a mega state level events will be held on 19.06.2025 in all 17 SCD Mission states. District level events will be organized in all 365 districts, where the Mission is operational.
