Sickle cell research unit holds out hope in KBK

The New Indian Express, Jan 2, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: To combat sickle cell disease, a Sickle Cell Disease Research Centre has started functioning in Sardar Raja Medical College in Jaring of Kalahandi district under the leadership of project director Dr. Gyana Ranjan Padhi.

Padhi, a medicine specialist, after retiring from health Department services joined the medical college recently. He hails from Dasigaon of Kalahandi.

In 1994, Padhi developed the DTN (Disease Trait Normal) formula of genetic counselling to save the next generation from the dreaded disease.

According to the formula, blood will be examined by Electrophoresis Card and marriage should be avoided between diseased and diseased, diseased and trait and trait and trait so that a chain is broken. A special counselling is part of the formula.

The project proposal of Padhi was approved by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

The then Director of health Services, Orissa, on March 29, 2005, had approved and suggested the Government to implement the research project of Padhi in Western Orissa.

Ironically it could not be materialised despite Padhi approaching various quarters and running from pillar to post.

Sickle cell is a type of anaemia in which red blood cells become sickle in shape. The clumps of sickle cells block blood flow in blood vessels that can cause severe pain, serious infection and organ damage.

It is also responsible for increased infant and maternal mortality rate and is found mostly among specific castes in Kalahandi, Koraput, Balangir, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Boudh, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Ganjam districts.

It is prevalent mostly among various SC/ST groups, agria, kultha, chasha, paik, banka, goud, dumal, bholia, kurmi, mali and komar castes.