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IN Chhattisgarh, a serious disorder that8217;s affected almost 17 per cent of the state8217;s population, has gone almost unreported. Abou...

IN Chhattisgarh, a serious disorder that8217;s affected almost 17 per cent of the state8217;s population, has gone almost unreported. About 35 lakh people in the state live with sickle cell anaemia. This genetic disorder affects the red blood cells, resulting in anaemia. The red blood cells assume the shape of a sickle that blocks blood circulation in the body. In children, it can cause retardation.

Sumer Gupta, his wife and their four children8212;all in the 15 to 23 age group, suffer from sickle cell anaemia. Till three years ago, Gupta had never heard of the disease. Now he has sold his shop and two vehicles to raise money for treatment.

The disease8217;s spread includes Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkand, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Andhra Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, at least 35 lakh people, nearly 17 percent of the state8217;s population, is in the grip of sickle cell disorder.

Marriages between two carriers of the sickle cell gene is identified as major cause of the disease. Lack of preventive treatments, diagnostic and follow-up counseling facilities has led to an increase in this disease in all 16 districts of the state. There is no specific study on the subject yet but hospital statistics show that it has claimed 10,000 lives in the past three years. Even four years after the formation of the state, there is no provision of separate treatment of sickle cell patients at Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical college hospital in Raipur. District hospitals lack facility for blood sampling and detection of the disease. 8216;8216;At least six percent of the afflicted children fail to survive infancy as there is no medical intervention,8217;8217; says Dr A R Dalla, president of the sickle cell project launched recently by the Indian Red Cross Society Chhattisgarh branch.

And though there may be no cure for the disease, Dalla says there is always a scope for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of patients. 8216;8216;Under project sickle cell, there is a plan for door-to-door screening of sickle cell patients, mass blood sampling and survey carriers of the disease,8217;8217; says state chief minister Raman Singh, adding that with an AIIMS being set up in Raipur, there is a plan to have a research centre on sickle cell. anaemia.