Support Sickle Cell Anemia Patient in Maharashtra

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” as quoted by William James states the exact suffering of the sickle cell positive patients...Career or sufferer Sickle Cell anemia is their new identity...Every day, in their short unpredictable life, is a new challenge...they need to accept this misfortune on a daily basis ...on a situational basis.

Maharashtra Arogya Mandal is fighting with this deadly disease since a couple of decades now. Every screening camp teaches us a new thing which ultimately leads to accepting the harsh reality that we have limited resources and time to fight this misfortune....the only ray of hope is our effort cumulative of three major steps ...first is diagnosis at right time...second preventing disease spread in the next generation by marriage councelling and free palliative medications with potent herbal drug along with other suppliments.

During 26 to 29 November 2016 we have conducted two major diagnostic camps at Dhadgaon and Chopda centers...where we have screened 287 new patients out of them 122 (AS) were carrier and 77 (SS)sufferer cases..helped with concerned medicines and counselling and 86 (AA)patients were normal.

During this camp 1065 old patients got free medication for two months, dietary advice and other medicinal suppliments after thorough clinical check up.

During December we have undertaken three major camps for A+A Normal A+S Carrier S+S Sufferer stages of the disease among tribal population from 27 December to 29 December 2016...in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh tribal belts.

1. At Devzaari Aashramshaala,Chopda, Jalagaon district , Maharashtra center, total 289  tribals were screened with 226 AA Normal , 60 AS Carrier  and 03 SS Sufferer pattern patients.

2. At Dhavli village, Taluka Varala, Bidvani district , Madhya Pradesh total 191 tribals were screened , with 143 AA , 42 AS and 06 SS pattern patients.

3. At Gerughati , Varala, Bidvani district , Madhya Pradesh total 322 new screenings were done with 253 AA,60 AS and 09 SS pattern patients.

These three camps proved successful with a total screening output of 802 tribal people..with 622 AA normal , but with 162 AS carriers and 18 SS positive patients for sickle cell disease.

This means we need to focus 162 carrier and 18 sufferer patients of the sickle cell disease in subsequent camps. 

The Action Plan for the disease is as follows

• We organised our major health camps, at the tribal belt covering major population of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh where facilities for diagnosis, ayurvedic treatment counselling and prevention are made available. In addition to this doctor and laboratory technicians are available on every Monday and Tuesday for patient service at our Chopda and Dhadgaon centers.
• We have developed herbal medicine in our pharmacy, the drug is known as “SC3” and very effective in controlling severe symptoms of the disease. Patients are happy with our herbal medicine results.
• Patients attending our clinics are divided in two groups, one who are diagnosed previously at our centre and come for medical check-up, drug and counselling. We discuss with every patients about illness during last two months, suggest any changes in medicine, further instructions for diet and life style advice for keeping good health. Every patient received drug for next two months. We write down all findings in a note book given to them and also keep record in our file. We instruct patient, that for any acute illness in between next two months, she/he should approach nearest medical officer along with note book so that treating physician gets information about diagnosis treatment given and follow up. 
• Another group of individuals attending our clinic are new comers having symptoms of Sickle Cell Anaemia. We prepare their case paper, write down all details on their case paper regarding full name, age/sex; details about their address. After that their blood is collected for diagnosis and when Sickle Cell Status is known they are divided in three groups, one Sickle Cell Anaemia patient, another carrier, and third Normal (without Sickle Cell Defect). 
• We provide identity cards Red to sufferer, Yellow to Carrier and White to normal individuals. Detail examination of every new diagnosed patient is carried out and we discuss with them about various aspects of the disease, drug information and instructions for follow up. We suggest every patient for screening his/her family members as well to check up for Sickle Cell Status so that they can bring them for next visit. We write in their note book, dates about next major camp.

This struggle of Maharashtra Arogya Mandal is well supported by many helping hands of donors on Global Giving platform.

We appreciate your generous support and in this festive season we hope that you will definitely bring light in the lives of tribal people succumbed to the dark and harsh reality of sickle cell disease.

On behalf of Maharashtra Arogya Mandal we wish you a happy and prosperous new year.

Links:

• Sickle Cell Work of Maharashtra Arogya Mandal,Pune,India