President Drupadi Murmu speaks on the Worldwide Sickle Cell Day commemoration ceremony in Omkareshwar, Khandwa, June 19, 2026. Picture: Workplace of the Presidential Press Secretary by way of ANI Pictures
President Drupadi Murmu stated on Friday (June 19, 2026) that sickle cell anemia shall be eradicated nicely forward of the 2047 goal set by the federal government, whereas urging nations to not take the illness flippantly and referred to as for collective efforts to lift consciousness concerning the illness, particularly amongst tribal communities.
Addressing a Madhya Pradesh authorities occasion at Omkareshwar in Khandwa district, the President stated, “By the collective energy and energetic participation of all nations, India will obtain its nationwide aim of eradicating sickle cell-related illness nicely earlier than 2047.”
He additionally stated that numerous key targets set on the launch of the nationwide mission in 2023, comparable to testing 7 billion individuals between the ages of 0 and 40, have been achieved forward of schedule. “This is among the largest genetic illness screening efforts on the earth,” she stated.
“From a public well being perspective, that is the primary time within the nation that such large-scale genetic screening coupled with digital monitoring shall be carried out. Mission mode screening has thus far recognized round 250,000 individuals with sickle cell-related illness and greater than 2 million carriers,” she stated.
Murmu additionally praised Madhya Pradesh for testing 1.25 crore individuals within the state thus far and offering genetic counseling playing cards to most of them.
The President stated numerous scientific research have proven that the prevalence of sickle cell anemia in tribal communities is many occasions increased than within the common inhabitants.
“I want to urge all state governments and officers to not take this illness flippantly as it’s handed down from technology to technology. Efforts needs to be made to eradicate it utterly as it’s treatable. This illness will be eradicated. Such claims are rising,” she stated.
Murmu additionally praised the Nationwide Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission-2047 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh in 2023 and stated it was the primary mission within the nation to be applied via a joint mannequin between the Union Ministry of Well being and Household Welfare and the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
“In consequence, for the primary time within the nation, a nationwide marketing campaign has been launched that integrates public well being, tribal welfare, genetic science and digital surveillance. The 17 nations collaborating on this marketing campaign are actively contributing to its implementation,” she added.
President Murmu concluded a two-day state tour on Friday (June 19).
