Sickle Cell Disease is  a genetic condition  that affects hemoglobin which carries oxygen in  the body

This disease is traditionally high among Telangana’s tribal population.

Union Ministry of  Tribal Affairs and genetic researchers say sickle cell disease is widespread among tribal groups of India

Tribal Affairs ministry says 1 in 86 among Scheduled Tribes (ST) population have SCD

SCD prevalence  is higher in Central, South and Western parts of India.

A nationwide wide screening of tribal population by ICMR and Ministry of Tribal Affairs, indicated that 9,966,368 (8.75%) out of 1, 13, 83, 664 persons tested positive for SCD.

SCD is a genetic disorder inherited  by children from  their parents. 

Interestingly,  SCD prevalence  is particularly high  in regions where malaria is endemic

SCD occurs due to a gene mutation that affects the shape of RBCs, making them crescent shaped instead of round shape. It causes constant shortage of RBCs leading to anemia and other serious ailments. 

Life expectancy  of SCD positive individuals is around 54 years, which is  20 years shorter than normal adults.

Endogamy, or  marrying within the same community and within a small area (tribal regions) causes inherited genetic disorders like the Sickle Cell anemia and  beta-Thalassemia.

Blood samples of  6.96 lakh tribal people tested for the third time from 14 tribal-dominant districts in Third edition

Second edition of  the screening 

tribals were diagnosed with the disorder  in Telangana

10000

tribals from Adilabad had the disease in 2022

375

tribals from Adilabad had sickle cell, while 32 had thalassemia  in 2015

2,100

Total tribals diagnosed with sickle cell in Telangana

740

Total tribals who  were found to be carriers of sickle cell in Telangana

5,627

Tribals diagnosed  with sickle cell in Bhadradri Kothagudem

512

Tribals who were found to be carriers of sickle cell Bhadri Kothagudem

1,681

tribals had the  disease and 997 tribals were the carriers

99

Mancherial: