Patients of sickle cell anaemia on the rise in Banke

Patients of sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia are on the rise, especially in the Tharu community in Banke.

It was detected during medical screening of sickle cell anaemia along with thalassemia in the areas having the majority of the Tharu population.

According to the District Health Office, Banke, the number of patients diagnosed with sickle cell has reached 23 in Raptisonari rural municipality.

As details of the people examined for sickle cell has yet to be collected from other municipal units, an aggregate number of the survivors has not been ascertained in the district, said Health Office Chief Dhiraj Jung Shah.

Though free treatment has rendered relief to the patients of sickle cell anaemia to some extent, the measure has not relieved the survivors of thalassemia, he further shared.

Even it has not been ascertained how many people are surviving with thalassemia. The screening was carried out among the students of grades 9 and 10 of the Tharu community in Raptisonari. It is still ongoing, he shared.

Some of the patients commented that they have to spend tens of thousands of rupees for treatment in private health institutions after complaining of several physical complications.

The survivors have been facing trouble in their treatment when they were not aware of government-sponsored treatment up to Rs 100,000.

Ram Krishna Tharu, 28, of Raptisonari Rural Municipality-4, Bijapur in Banke said he was not informed of government arrangements for free treatment to the sickle cell anaemia survivors. He added he has spent a huge chunk of money on treatment at private hospitals.

Sickle Cell specialist Dr Rajan Pandey said patients are being compelled to spend tens of thousands of rupees even after their diagnosis. He said the blood test was the permanent solution to sickle cell anaemia.

Apart from Raptisonari rural municipality in the district, Kohalpur municipality also has witnessed the same health issue. Authorities said the overall situation of the district can be ascertained only after collecting data from all local levels.

It was shared that 96 people were diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia when blood samples of 572 people were tested in a screening camp organized by the health office.