Nashik: Tuesday was World Sickle Cell Day. The district health department held an awareness programme at Nashik civil hospital asking pregnant women from tribal areas to get their blood checked to ensure they do not have sickle cell traits. This disease is inherited from parents and characterized by deformity in the red blood cells. Tribal people, who often marry close relatives, are especially susceptible to this disease.Health authorities instructed medical officers at the rural hospital and primary health centres across the district to conduct awareness programmes. Officials of the health department said there were 2,921 carriers of sickle cell; of these, 188 are patients. As camps were being organized, more and more people are being identified with the condition and numbers are rising, officials said.Of the total 2,921 carriers who have been identified, 161 were identified from April 2017 till May 31, 2018. During the same period, 22 sufferers were also identified.The red blood cells of such patients at times become sickle-shaped making it difficult for them to pass through blood vessels. There is no cure for the disease. If a person with this condition also marries someone with a similar condition, the chances of the child inheriting it become very high. The government is thus attempting to ensure that such marriages do not occur. Awareness camps are being undertaken, mainly in tribal regions, where marriages are arranged between close relations.Patients with this blood disorder are prescribed a daily dose of medicines like a tablet of folic acid and hydroxyurea tablets in crisis. Some patients are also in need of blood, which is made available round the year, officials said.Since 2008, ever since the sickle cell programme was initiated in the district, the health machinery has screened 10.71 lakh people across the district.

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