Bhubaneswar, 05 October (H.S.): Odisha has launched its first vaccination programme for sickle cell patients under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) at the District Headquarters Hospital in Angul. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling attended the inaugural programme, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening healthcare and treatment facilities for sickle cell patients.

The Minister said the initiative has been launched under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as part of efforts to advance the ‘Anaemia Mukt Bharat’ campaign. The programme aims to provide long-term immunity and enhanced health protection to sickle cell patients across the state.

Under the vaccination programme, eligible sickle cell patients will first receive one dose of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-13) intramuscularly. A dose of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV-23) will be administered eight weeks later. The two-dose vaccination schedule is aimed at providing protection against pneumococcal infections and strengthening long-term immunity among sickle cell patients.

The market cost of the two vaccine doses is more than Rs 4,000. However, the vaccines will be provided completely free of cost to beneficiaries. The district administration has sanctioned Rs 2.8 crore from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund for the initiative.

Angul MLA Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Chhendipada MLA Agasti Behera, Pallahara MLA and District Planning Board Chairman Ashok Mahanty, the District Collector, Chief District Medical Officer, senior health officials and other departmental officials were present at the programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda