Over 650 Suspected Sickle Cell Anemia Cases Found in Dang

Dang. More than six hundred and fifty suspected sickle cell anemia patients have been found when more than five thousand citizens were tested for sickle cell anemia and thalassemia in Dang. In the screening conducted by collecting samples from various places in the district along with Rapti Health Sciences Academy, 650 suspected sickle cell anemia patients were found among 5,070 people whose samples were collected.

Rapti Health Sciences Academy informed that among the 5,070 samples collected from various places in Dang, symptoms of sickle cell were found in 670 people. He said that in the coming fiscal year, intensive testing will be done targeting 650 households with symptoms of sickle cell. He said that sickle cell disease is not specific to any one caste and everyone should be tested.

Pathologist of the Academy, Dr. Jenish Chhatkuli, informed that abnormal hemoglobin was found in the samples tested in the sickle cell anemia screening program conducted by the Academy.

According to her, the risk of sickle cell and thalassemia is still challenging based on the sample testing conducted by the Academy along with various health institutions and schools in the district. During the camp, among the 5,070 people tested, including 3,161 women and 1,909 men, hemoglobin was normal in 4,420 people, while various types of abnormal hemoglobin were found in 650 people, informed Academy Pathologist Chhatkuli.

According to her, among those tested, 33 people had sickle cell digit, 347 people had sickle cell trait, 3 people had beta thalassemia major, 157 people had beta thalassemia trait, 59 people had sickle cell beta thalassemia trait, and 51 people had other types of hemoglobin variants.

In accordance with the objective of testing five thousand citizens for sickle cell anemia, the Academy collected and tested samples from 303 people from Rapti Health Sciences Academy in Ghorahi, 1,527 people from Siddharatnanath Model Secondary School Narayanpur, 751 people from Secondary School Saudiyar, 498 people from Kothari Health Post, 563 people from Rapti Basic Hospital Sisahaniya, 432 people from Dangi Sharan Rural Municipality's health post, 277 people from Jhingni Health Post and Jhingni Secondary School, and 319 people from Dipendra Secondary School in Manpur during the current fiscal year.

Health workers have emphasized the need for timely testing, counseling, and public awareness as sickle cell and thalassemia are hereditary blood-related diseases. They said that the risk of the disease in the new generation can be reduced if tested before marriage and before family planning. The Academy has stated that it will continue testing and awareness programs in communities and areas with high risk.