Patients can now avail benefits derived by Divyang or persons with disabilities Nagpur: In a significant initiative, the State Government has decided to provide Divyang certificate to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients in Maharashtra. The beginning was made in Nagpur as the first Divyang certificate was given a patient Vidhita Chakole by District Collector Ashwin Mudgal recently. With the certificate, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients can avail the benefits derived by Divyang or persons with disabilities. The Director of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre, Nagpur, Dr Vinky Rughwani had strived hard and demanded the State Government to extend benefits availed by Divyang also to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients. Accepting the demand, the State Government had decided to provide Divyang certificates to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients. In a first in the State, the District Collector Ashwin Mudgal handed over such certificate to a patient named Vidhita Chakole. It may be recalled that the Central Government under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act had notified various types of disabilities. The Act lays stress on non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and acceptance of disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity, equality of opportunity, accessibility, equality between men and women, respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities, and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities. Subsequently, blood disorders such as thalassemia, sickle cell and other diseases were also included in the Act. They were also provided reservation in education. However, these patients were being deprived of their rights in the State. The Director of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre, Nagpur, Dr Vinky Rughwani, a Paediatrician and who is also Chairman of Ethical Committee & Executive Body Member, Maharashtra Medical Council, Govt. of Maharashtra, had demanded the State Government to extend reservation and benefits of other schemes to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients. During the Monsoon Session, Dr Rughwani and parents of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Chief Minister had immediately directed the Health Department, Medical Education Department and Social Welfare Department to initiate action in this regard. Following the efforts and demand by Dr Rughwani, the State Government has decided to provide Divyang certificates to patients with disabilities inflicted by 21 blood disorders. For receiving this certificate, the patients will have to apply online. For the State Government initiative, Dr Rughwani, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients and parents have thanked the Chief Minister. Dr Rughwani is also Member Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council, Govt. of Maharashtra and Member State Blood Transfusion Council, Govt. of Maharashtra. Thalassemia and Sickle Cell anemia is a serious blood disorder, a condition in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout body. The patients have to undergo painful blood transfusion frequently.

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