Context: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for the underprivileged Thalassemic patients.

Thalassemia

• It is an inherited blood disorder characterised by less oxygen-carrying protein (haemoglobin) and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal.

Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna

• It’s beneficiaries all underprivileged i.e. BPL patients suffering from haematological disorders which includes Thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.
• “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” launched in 2017, it is a Coal India CSR funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) program that aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease for patients who have a matched family donor.
• The CSR initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a total of 200 patients by providing a package cost not exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs per HSCT.
• “Data on the prevalence of silent carriers for various Haemoglobinopathies show that it is 2.9-4.6% for β-Thalassemia, while it can be as high as 40% for sickle cell anaemia especially among the tribal population.
• Haemoglobin variants like HBE in eastern India can be as common as 3-50% which calls for more attention to these diseases

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1664398

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