Mysuru achieves 100% sickle cell screening

Mysuru: Mysuru district has achieved 100% progress in sickle cell anaemia screening, with 1,59,162 people being examined. Of them, 1,353 are identified as sickle cell carriers and 178 as sickle cell disease patients, said district health officer Dr P C Kumaraswamy on Saturday.Speaking after inaugurating the observance of World Sickle Cell Anaemia Day and a review meeting of the health department, the DHO said KR Hospital has been declared Karnataka’s Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease. He credited ASHA workers for the successful implementation of the sickle cell programme over the past three years. The disease is hereditary and is passed on from one generation to the next, he added.JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER) vice-chancellor Dr H Basavanagowdappa said sickle cell anaemia is more prevalent among people living in hilly and forest fringe areas, particularly in north Karnataka. In Mysuru district, the disease is more common in HD Kote, Hunsur and Periyapatna taluks.District family welfare officer Dr Gopinath urged primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) to improve their performance under the Kayakalpa Scheme, noting that poor scores by several hospitals had lowered the district’s ranking at the state level.

District surveillance officer Dr Nagaraj said the state govt’s Gruha Arogya Scheme is an ambitious initiative that requires greater attention from doctors. The programme has been in operation for seven months, but the progress of PHCs and CHCs has not been satisfactory. He directed ASHA workers to visit households, create awareness among people above 30 years of age, regularly update their health records and report any of the nine diseases identified under the programme.Divisional deputy director Dr Prakash, district keprosy control officer Dr Brinda, sickle cell anaemia nodal officer Dr Siraj Ahmed, district malaria officer Dr Suvarna and other officials were present.