Context
- India co-hosted the launch of OneSCD on 23 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York.
- The initiative seeks to strengthen global cooperation for equitable and accessible prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
- Around 7.74 million people were living with SCD globally in 2021, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for nearly 80% of cases.
About OneSCD
- OneSCD is a global multistakeholder partnership aimed at advancing health equity and transforming Sickle Cell Disease care.
- It serves as a coordination mechanism to strengthen existing country-led SCD programmes and scale proven approaches to care.
- Focus: Improve access to prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and continuing care, particularly in high-burden regions.
- Host: The initiative was hosted by the Government of Nigeria, with India as a co-host.
- Key partners: WHO, UNICEF, Africa CDC, World Coalition on Sickle Cell Disease and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, along with governments, health experts, civil society and affected communities.
Significance of OneSCD
- Health equity: Seeks to reduce unequal access to SCD diagnosis and treatment across countries.
- Coordinated action: Brings governments, international organisations, experts and affected communities onto a common platform.
- Country-led approach: Supports national health programmes instead of creating a separate parallel system.
About Sickle Cell Disease
- SCD is a group of inherited blood disorders affecting haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen.
- In SCD, abnormal haemoglobin S (HbS) can make normally flexible RBCs become rigid and sickle-shaped.
- These sickled cells can block small blood vessels and also break down earlier than normal RBCs, causing reduced blood and oxygen supply.
- Sickle cell anaemia is the most common severe form of SCD.
Symptoms and Complications
- Symptoms usually begin in early childhood and may include anaemia, fatigue, jaundice and painful swelling of hands and feet.
- Blocked blood flow can lead to severe pain crises, infections, stroke and organ damage.
Treatment
- Disease management: Hydroxyurea, vaccinations, blood transfusions and supportive care can reduce symptoms and complications.
- Stem-cell transplant: A haematopoietic stem-cell transplant can potentially cure SCD in selected patients.
- Gene therapy: Gene-based treatments provide new curative possibilities, though high cost and limited accessibility remain major constraints.
India and Sickle Cell Disease
- India launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in 2023, with the goal of eliminating Sickle Cell Anaemia as a public-health problem by 2047.
- It combines population screening, early diagnosis, genetic counselling, treatment, follow-up and digital tracking, with particular attention to tribal populations.
- By September 2026, over 7.29 crore people had been screened, identifying over 20 lakh carriers and around 2.5 lakh people with SCD.
FAQs
Q1. What is OneSCD?
It is a global partnership for equitable and coordinated Sickle Cell Disease care.
Q2. Which country hosted the launch of OneSCD?
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, with India as a co-host.
Q3. What is Haemoglobin S (HbS)?
It is an abnormal form of haemoglobin responsible for sickling of red blood cells in SCD.
Q4. Is Sickle Cell Disease contagious?
No. It is an inherited genetic disorder.
Q5. What is India’s Sickle Cell elimination target?
India aims to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia as a public-health problem by 2047.
