KGH Vizag Launches ₹3.77 Crore Sickle Cell Centre for Tribal Healthcare

KGH Vizag Inaugurates ₹3.77 Crore Sickle Cell Centre

King George Hospital has inaugurated a new Centre of Competence for Haemoglobinopathies to strengthen the treatment and management of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in north-coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The advanced healthcare facility has been established at a cost of ₹3.77 crore with the cooperation of the Central government. The centre is expected to become a major healthcare hub for tribal populations living in the agency areas of Andhra Pradesh.

The inauguration was attended by State Minister Gummidi Sandhyarani and other officials, highlighting the government’s focus on tribal welfare and healthcare infrastructure development.

Major Support for Tribal Healthcare in Andhra Pradesh

The newly launched centre mainly aims to provide specialised diagnosis, treatment, counselling, and long-term care for patients suffering from sickle cell disease.

The facility will especially benefit tribal communities from the agency regions of Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district and nearby north-coastal Andhra Pradesh areas where sickle cell disease cases are more common.

Officials stated that the centre is equipped with advanced genetic testing systems, including High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), which helps in accurate diagnosis and disease management.

Part of National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

The KGH centre has been developed under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 1, 2023.

The mission aims to eliminate sickle cell disease in India by 2047 through large-scale screening, awareness programmes, genetic counselling, and improved treatment accessibility.

Under the national programme, around 7 crore people aged between 0 and 40 years in affected tribal regions across the country are planned to be screened to identify patients and carriers of the disease.

Andhra Pradesh Intensifies Screening Efforts

The Andhra Pradesh government has also increased screening targets to tackle the growing prevalence of sickle cell disease in tribal belts of north-coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Health officials revealed that the State had set a target of screening more than 5 lakh people during 2023-24 as part of the awareness and prevention campaign.

Sickle cell disease is a serious genetic blood disorder that affects red blood cells and weakens the immune system, requiring lifelong treatment and regular medical care.

With the establishment of the new Centre of Competence at KGH Vizag, patients from tribal regions are expected to receive better medical support, counselling, blood transfusion services, and advanced healthcare facilities closer to their regions.

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