Context: Union Minister of Tribal Affairs flagged off mobile vans under the Unmukt project for strengthening screening and timely management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD )in Khunti district of Jharkhand and Kanker in Chhattisgarh.
About Sickle cell disease 

• Sickle cell disease (SCD), or sickle cell anaemia, is a major genetic disease that affects most countries in the African Region. 
• In this disease, the normal round shape of red blood cells become like crescent moons. 
• Round red blood cells can move easily through the blood vessels but sickle-shaped cells interconnect and can result in blood clots and these blood clots can cause extreme pain in the back, chest, hands and feet. 
• This disrupted blood flow can also cause damage to bones, muscles and organs. 
• People with sickle cell disease often feel weak, tired and look pale and the whites of the eyes and skin often have a yellowish tint.
• In countries such as Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria the prevalence is between 20% to 30% while in some parts of Uganda it is as high as 45%.
• Sickle cell disease (SCD) , which is the most prevalent inherited blood disorder, is widespread amongst many tribal population groups in India, posing a considerable health burden in several states.

Causes

• Environmental factors often play a role in the occurrence of painful attacks and common triggers include cold temperatures, dehydration, excessive amounts of exercise and tobacco smoke and other triggers such as plane flights and high altitudes can also trigger an attack.

Treatment

• Hydroxyurea is a medicine that can decrease several complications of SCD. 
• This treatment is very safe when given by medical specialists experienced in caring for patients with SCD. However, the side effects of taking hydroxyurea during pregnancy or for a long time are not completely known.  
• The Food and Drug Administration has also approved a new medicine to reduce the number of sickle cell crises in adults and children older than age five; it is called Endari .
• Another treatment, which can actually cure SCD, is a stem cell transplant (also called a bone marrow transplant).
• This procedure infuses healthy cells, called stem cells, into the body to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow (bone marrow is the center of the bone where blood cells are made).

Steps 

• The Ministry of  Tribal Affairs formed the National Council on Sickle Cell Disease and established a Tribal Health Cell, which would coordinate with the Ministry of Health and State Governments.  
• The Ministry has devised a mechanism for making a Central Repository of data through development of Sickle Cell Support Corner which is posted on the Ministry's dashboard.
• Recently, The Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment has increased the validity of disability certificates for SCD patients from 1 year to 3 year.