At an event in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Modi assured the mission will bring about a change in lives of the tribals, where largest number of sick people are being registered given neglect suffered by these territories in the last 70 years.

Modi pointed out that half of the sickle cell anemia cases worldwide are found in India.

According to a 2021 study, India is home to over 20 million sickle cell anemia patients and has the highest prevalence of the disease among South Asian nations.

In the new scheme, 70 million people (aged up to 40) in affected tribal areas will be screened for the disease, government sources said.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells develop abnormally, sickle-shaped and affect hemoglobin.

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