Bhubaneswar, Oct 22: A one day state level workshop on “Sickle cell disease during pregnancy” was organized today.

The event was jointly organized by the National Health Mission (NHM) Odisha, Directorate of Blood Safety, and UNICEF Odisha.

The workshop aimed to review the implementation of Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Programme and orient District Public Health Officers (DPHOs) and Assistant Managers (NCD) from 21 high-burden districts, alongside officers and consultants from NHM and key development partners like William J Clinton Foundation (WJCF).

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Odisha continued to lead the nation in screening and detection efforts. In the landmark step toward reducing maternal mortality, the state formulated a comprehensive “Protocol for Management of Pregnancy with Sickle Cell Disease,” becoming the first state in India to introduce a protocol of its kind. The protocol was developed through the collaborative effort involving experts from state medical colleges, program divisions of NHM, Health Directorate and UNICEF.

Sickle Cell Disease during pregnancy posed significant health risk compared with pregnancies unaffected by this condition. However, timely, systematic medical interventions can drastically mitigate these risks. The newly introduced protocol provided appropriate clinical guidance and responsibilities for healthcare providers at different levels.

The workshop was inaugurated by prominent health administrators and dignitaries, including Mission Director (In-charge) Harish Chandra Nayak,, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Mohapatra, Director, Blood Safety & Public Health, Dr. Bishnu Prasad Mohapatra, Director, Family Welfare ,Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, Team Lead, SHSRC, Dr. Murlidhar Padhi, Additional Director Maternal Health, Dr. Meena Som, Health Specialist, UNICEF Odisha.