This week in SIckle cell news June 13th to the 19th

By Sean Marshall
Slow news week but non the less there was still some interesting things going on. Like a study's finding on the population of India and who as sickle cell anemia diseases.
It was reported this week by The Times of Indian that 10% of tribal people are affected with sickle cell anemia. It was reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “serious cause for concern with tribal-dominated Jharkhand( a state in eastern India carved out of the southern part of Bihar) last emerging as home to an alarmingly high number of people afflicted with sickle-cell anemia.”
This article had only surfaced this week because “according to a study conducted by the state health department,(of India)more than nine lakh tribals are suffering from the fatal disease.” With the total population of Inda to account for this equals according to the report “10% of the state's total tribal population as per the 2011 census.”
The article also outlined the findings of the survey, specifically comparing Jharkland to the rest of the world. “The findings, which were laid out at an internal department meeting early this week, puts Jharkhand right next to Chattisgarh as the worst-hit state, and ahead of Odisha. While Chattisgarh is home to 10 lakh sickle-cell anemic people, Odisha has six lakh affected people.”
For those who don't know a lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand.
So the quote really reads Chattisgarh is home to 10000000 people sickle cell anemic people. This is why this study is important because it affects a lot more people then the average person would think These numbers are startling and this is why the prime minister is at least reading the latest report. Now the international world just has to be patient and hope progress is made soon.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/10-of-tribals-afflicted-with-sickle-cell-anaemia/articleshow/48037811.cms
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