this week in sickle cell news August 24th to the 30th

By Sean Marshall
Big news out of India this week from the Nagpur state government. It was reported in The Times of India that “this weekend, state government officials and experts attended a meeting in which some landmark decisions for the welfare of patients of sickle cell disease (SCD) were made.”

It was also stated the decisions at the meeting included “ making provision for conducting free antenatal diagnosis tests with the help of Mumbai-based National Institute of Immunohaematology, proposal to set up a fund for patients needing hip joint replacement as they are not included in Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Arogya Yojana.” The meeting also dealt with “testing of all kids in ashramshalas in state by Pune-based Tribal Research Institute.”

It was said that many supporters both in the government as well as N.G.O.'s and even the public felt this meeting was overdue. One important aspect was a quote from the head of pediatric department of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College. Dipty Jain was quoted to have said “the most important thing being with government officials but doctors, researchers and activists all attending it, all aspects and problems were taken into consideration before making the decisions."

There were other decisions being made that involved running sickle cell day cares establishing centers in areas that are underdeveloped and spreading sickle cell awareness. But what really does stand out is that almost everyone from many different walks of life were there to make this decision together.   

This is not only a big move on India's part but it also sets a precedent for the rest of the world. 
The original article can be found here: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/States-slew-of-sops-for-sickle-cell-patients/articleshow/48659916.cms

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