P. SRIDEVI, Associate Professor, Central Tribal University of AP, conducting a survey of sickle -shaped diseases in the tribal areas of the ASR district. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
According to Paripandl Sridevi, associate professor at the central tribal university, Vizianagararam is, according to tribal people, especially people living in the agency areas of the Alluri Sitharam Raju district, the prevailing disease.
It is estimated that 1% of the total population has SCD and 4% are carriers of the properties of sickle cells, prof. Sridevi introduced on the eve of the world sickle day, which is observed every year June 19.
Prof. Sridevi conducts research in the tribal areas of the undistributed district of Visakhapatnam in the North Andhra region in the last three years.
Research is carried out as part of the ICMR – National Task Force project, which has been underway for the last seven years.
The SCD is caused by a sickle -shaped cell, a defective gene that looks like a sickle.
People affected by this disease are born with two sickle cells – one from each parent. Those who were born with a single sickle -like cell, called the properties of sickle cells, are generally healthy, but they can pass the defective gene to their children, she said.
“Initially, Prof. Sudhakar from the Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University, worked on the project. Then I worked on the same project in Madhya Pradesh. I worked on the project for the last three years in Gannel, Madagada and Padero in the ASR district,” said Prof. Sridevi Hindu.
“I have noticed that SCD patients are unable to obtain blood transfusions and hydroxymoching in time due to poor tribal equipment. Stigma is associated with the disease because many tribal people think it is a curse. Some others mix like common anemia.
Sridevi said that such research projects act as a bridge between tribal people and the government, as these problems are warned by the authorities.
“We want SCD therapeutic facilities to improve. We are proceeding with tribal people about marriages between close relations, which is common practice in agencies,” she said.
Quote from the data provided by the ASR DM&M Dr. Jamal Basha prof. Sridevi said that 4.10 380 was verified at the anemia of the sickle cells in the undivided district of Visakhapatnam to 18 June. Among them, 1,488 was identified as positive SCDs. The government has taken measures for the necessary medicines and nutrition for patients with a goal that by 2047 completely eradicated SCD in Andhra Pradesh.
Published – June 20, 2025 08:45
