The Union Budget for 2023 announced a new mission to eliminate sickle cell disease in tribal communities in Odisha. The prevalence of the disease ranges between 10 and 15 among the tribal communities of Odisha, and the new mission is aimed at focussing attention on the disease and the basic living conditions of tribals, including the particularly vulnerable tribal groups. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has decided to screen the disease in tribaldominated districts, and the state government has plans to take up the screening and early detection in the rest of the districts. This is a welcome step, and the elimination of sickle cell disease from India is important for the development of these indigenous people.
