Thiruvananthapuram, June 17 (UNI) To strengthen awareness about sickle cell anaemia, a year-long campaign, “Let’s Know and Prevent Sickle Cell Disease”, will be launched in Kerala.

The campaign, jointly organised by the Health Department and the Tribal Department, will provide awareness on topics related to sickle cell disease.

We are developing special messages, including in tribal dialects, for patients, pregnant women, and children affected by the disease. The logo of the campaign was officially launched by Health Minister Veena George.

Special screening is ongoing to identify sickle cell patients in tribal communities. The state government launched a comprehensive sickle cell treatment programme in 2007.

Screening tests and follow-up treatments are being conducted in tribal areas like Wayanad and Attappady. The project was comprehensively implemented in 2023 by the Centre, targeting regions with a high prevalence of the disease across 17 selected states at the national level.

In Kerala, the programme was extended to Nilambur, Attappady blocks, Kannur, Kasaragod and Idukki.

UNI DS ARN