Matching of sickle cell card is more important than matching of horoscopes before marriage: Governor

Bhopal. Governor Mangubhai Patel said that for a healthy generation, matching of sickle cell genetic counseling card is more important than matching of horoscopes before marriage, because if a sickle cell patient and a carrier marry each other, then their children will definitely suffer from sickle cell disease. If both the husband and wife are carriers of this disease, then also there is a high possibility that their future children will be affected by sickle cell. Governor Shri Patel advised sickle cell anemia patients to take special care of their diet and eat only home cooked food. He said that such persons should include regular nutritious diet, yoga and exercise in their daily routine.

Governor Shri Patel was addressing the sickle cell anemia screening camp organized in the hostel of Government Kamla Nehru Girls College on Monday. Tribal Affairs, Public Asset Management and Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah was also present in this screening camp organized under the joint aegis of Tribal Affairs Department and Health Department.

Governor Shri Patel said that medical counseling is very important before conception and also during pregnancy for the prevention of sickle cell anemia. Now, if sickle cell is detected within 72 hours of birth, facilities for special treatment of newborns are available. He said that the Central and State Governments are jointly making special efforts for the elimination of sickle cell anemia. Governor Shri Patel directed the concerned departments to get every person targeted for sickle cell screening screened with utmost seriousness.

Daughters should come forward for sickle cell awareness

Governor Shri Patel said that mother power has special importance in Indian culture. The contribution of daughters is necessary for the elimination of sickle cell. He said that daughters should come forward for sickle cell awareness and tell their close ones, relatives and people in the neighborhood about this disease and ask them to get their blood tested. Governor Shri Patel appealed to the people present that every person should actively contribute in the efforts to identify, prevent and eradicate sickle cell disease. Always be sensitive towards this noble work of serving humanity. He called for collective participation for the resolution to make India free from sickle cell anemia by 2047.

Governor Shri Patel inaugurated the program with lighting of lamps and garlanding the photographs of tribal heroes. Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Shah and the girls of Kanya Mahavidyalaya hostel presented a bouquet of flowers to Governor Shri Patel and warmly greeted him. On this occasion, Governor Shri Patel also gave gifts to the girl students of Kanya Mahavidyalaya hostel.

Arrangements will be made that a nurse in every hostel examines the students every month

Tribal Affairs Minister Dr. Shah said in his address that the role of Governor Shri Patel is very important in the sickle cell eradication mission of the state. Shri Shah wholeheartedly praised the ‘Tribal Cell’ established in the Raj Bhavan under the guidance of Governor Shri Patel for tribal interests. He said that Governor Shri Patel is very sensitive towards the tribal class. It is due to the efforts of Shri Patel that the work of eradicating sickle cell anemia in the state is going on rapidly on mission mode. He said that with the cooperation of the Health Department, we are making such arrangements that a nurse will visit every month in all the hostels of the students of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category in the state and will check the blood of the hostel children.

More than 72 lakh people have been screened

In the screening camp, Deputy Director of National Health Mission (NHM) Dr. Ruby Khan gave detailed information about the objectives of the screening camp and the symptoms of sickle cell disease, identification of the disease, prevention and treatment. He informed that under the Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission of the Government of India, more than 72 lakh people have been screened in the state so far. Under the target of the mission, sickle cell screening of one crore people is to be done. In the program, sickle cell anemia positive girl students of Kanya Mahavidyalaya hostel shared their experiences.