Novo Nordisk, RNT Medical College to establish India’s first Sickle Cell Wellness Hub

Novo Nordisk Education Foundation (NNEF), a non-profit organisation set up by Novo Nordisk India, signed an MoU with Rabindranath Tagore (RNT) Medical College, Udaipur to establish a ‘Sickle Cell Wellness Hub’ dedicated to people living with sickle cell disease (SCD). The MoU was signed between Dr Vipin Mathur – Principal and Controller, RNT Medical College and Vikrant Shrotriya – Managing Trustee, Novo Nordisk Education Foundation. Also present at the occasion were Dr R L Suman – Medical Superintendent, MB Government Hospital, Udaipur and Dr Lakhan Poswal – Senior Professor and HOD, Pediatrics and Nodal Officer, SCD Centre of Excellence, RNT Medical College.

This public-private partnership is aligned with the Government of India’s commitment to eradicate SCD from India by 2047 as part of its National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission 2023 (1).

The Sickle Cell Wellness Hub aims to offer holistic care for people living with SCD, from economically constrained backgrounds, in Rajasthan. The hub will offer a host of services to any person living with SCD including timely diagnosis, access to care, constant monitoring, dietary adjustments and counselling for other self-care activities. The programme aims to improve the existing infrastructure for SCD care to make it children-friendly while strengthening capacity-building initiatives among HCPs for better disease management. Additionally, regular educational and awareness camps will be organised for people living with SCD and various caregivers including healthcare practitioners (HCPs) and primary-level healthcare workers like Anganwadi workers and auxiliary nurse midwives.

Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic haemoglobin disorder that requires lifelong management and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality among children. 

The long-term objective of this partnership is to promote early screening and improve the lives of people living with SCD by providing them with a robust and sustainable healthcare infrastructure, improved diagnosis and clinical care and extending psychological and social support tools for self-care through education.

Reference:

Guidelines For National Programme For Prevention and Management Of Sickle Cell Disease. Available from: https://sickle.nhm.gov.in/uploads/english/OperationalGuidelines.pdf (Accessed on 9 Aug 2024)