India's Bold Move to Make Thalassemia Screening Standard Antenatal Care
Project MUKTA aims to incorporate thalassemia screening into routine antenatal care, spearheaded by FOGSI and Veha Foundation. With India having the highest cases globally, the initiative targets prevention through early detection and counseling, to ultimately curb the prevalence of this preventable genetic disorder.
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- India
In a landmark initiative to tackle the high prevalence of thalassemia in India, the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and Veha Foundation have launched Project MUKTA in Pune. The project aims to integrate thalassemia screening into routine antenatal care nationwide.
Thalassemia, a genetic disorder impeding the body's ability to produce healthy hemoglobin, affects over 42 million Indians. It remains a pressing concern with thousands of babies born each year with the condition. Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar, president of FOGSI, emphasized the urgency of preventive measures, ensuring that every pregnant woman undergoes a simple blood test early in her pregnancy.
With plans to rollout across 10 cities by 2025, Project MUKTA will focus on training doctors as master trainers. The initiative underscores the importance of early detection and counseling to prevent the condition from affecting more families, ultimately paving the way towards a future free from thalassemia in India.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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