Sickle Cell Genetic Testing Centre Coming Up at King George Hospital
The establishment of the testing centre will mark the achievement of continuous efforts by organisations focused on child rights.
Visakhapatnam: A new genetic testing centre dedicated to sickle cell anemia will be established at King George Hospital (KGH) within the next three months, following approval from the central government’s tribal welfare department. The Rs 4 crore facility was welcomed as a crucial step forward by the child rights organisations.
State convener of Child Rights Awareness Forum Gondu Sitaram praised the initiative and called the approval “commendable” given the high prevalence of sickle cell anemia among tribal populations in the region. “The setting up of Centre of Competence will be very useful for the lakhs of tribal children of ASR district and north Andhra districts suffering from sickle cell anemia,” Sitaram stated.
The establishment of the testing centre will mark the achievement of continuous efforts by organisations focused on child rights, which have pointed out the critical need for improved diagnostic services.
Members of the Alluri Sitarama district branch of the Child Rights Awareness Forum, spearheaded by convener Baka Lavakusa, have recorded numerous instances of tribal children enduring prolonged hardships due to delayed or unavailable diagnoses of the genetic condition.
Gondu Sitaram added the forum had raised these issues with both central and state governments, as well as elected representatives, stressing the seriousness of the disease and the difficulties faced by affected families in obtaining adequate medical treatment.
