Bhubaneswar, Apr 19: Pallavi Pattanaik often feels different from her friends. Living with sickle cell anemia, she has gotten used to her swollen hands and legs and the constant pain. Though L-Glutamine helps ease the pain a bit, the 30-year-old knows that her condition is lifelong, much like diabetes, and cannot be cured.
Pallavi is one of thousands in Odisha, a state with the highest number of sickle cell anemia cases in India. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has become a major health issue, with cases sharply increasing over the past year. In 2024-25, over 50 lakh blood tests were conducted in Odisha, revealing that 62,582 people were diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
The state's Health and Family Welfare Department has identified 10 districts in the western and southern parts of Odisha as particularly vulnerable to sickle cell disease. These districts include Sambalpur, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Koraput, Bargarh, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Angul, and Boudh. The number of thalassemia patients in these areas is also rising, with 1,448 new cases reported this year.
Out of 610 people who underwent sickle cell screening, 53,434 were found to be affected. The number of patients has steadily increased, with 14,41,010 cases reported in 2023-24.
Both sickle cell disease and thalassemia primarily affect children. These lifelong conditions require regular blood transfusions, usually every three months. Sickle cell disease causes the red blood cells to break down quickly, leading to anemia and other health problems. It is a genetic disorder that is passed down through families, affecting future generations.
The Health Department’s data shows that 21 districts in the state, including major ones like Angul, Bolangir, Balasore, and Bhubaneswar, are part of the National Sickle Cell and Anemia Elimination Mission, which started in 2023. Over the past two years, 65 lakh screenings have been completed.
One of the main challenges for these patients is the shortage of blood, especially during emergencies. The department has emphasized the importance of the National Testing (NAT) procedure, which helps identify infections in blood donations, ensuring safe blood for patients. However, NAT testing is currently available only in 11 districts, at government blood banks in places like Cuttack, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, and Koraput.
Efforts are being made to improve testing and treatment facilities to better manage the rising cases of sickle cell disease and thalassemia in Odisha.
