The Center of Excellence for Sickle Cell at RNT Medical College in Udaipur has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing the center established in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This achievement is noteworthy as the Udaipur center was established in February 2023, making it the second center in the country after Chhattisgarh.

The Sickle Cell Wellness Hub at Rabindranath Tagore (RNT) Medical College in Udaipur, Rajasthan, is a collaborative effort between the college and the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation (NNEF). This public-private partnership aims to enhance care for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) across Rajasthan, focusing on better support for tribal communities.

Patient Registrations Surge

In a short period, the center has registered 500 regular patients and over 1,500 carrier category patients. Screening efforts in districts such as Udaipur, Pali, Sirohi, Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, and Rajsamand are expected to increase the total number of patients to around 5,000. Many of these patients are likely to connect with the center in the future.

National Conference Highlights Achievements

Discussions about the Udaipur center's achievements took place during a two-day National Conference held on October 23 and 24. The event was organized by the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute. 

Training Program Under National Mission

A two-day training program was conducted under the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission. Experts from RNT Medical College attended the event, including Dr. Lakhan Poswal and Dr. Manish Kumar Chaudhary, State Coordinator of NHA. Nursing officer Lalit Kishore Pargi and Deputy CMHO Dr. Ankit Kumar Jain from the medical department were also present.

Currently, the Udaipur center offers comprehensive treatment facilities, vaccinations, research services, and has a blood bank equipped with Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing (NAAT). This NAAT facility is available in Udaipur only after Jaipur.

Participation in Training Program

Around 100 representatives from health-related institutions at the national level, including 17 states, participated in the training program. The primary goal of this training is to eliminate sickle cell disease in the country by the year 2047.

Source:Media Reports