Gujarat’s first Sickle Cell Anemia patient was diagnosed at Valsad in 1978. It was also observed that this hereditary abnormal gene is mainly found amongst underprivileged, poor, and uneducated tribal people, who will never go to any laboratory for their blood test on their own, by spending their own money, for Sickle Cell Anemia (Sickling) test. Hence they will remain un-diagnosed and will be wrongly treated by physicians. So the government or any charitable / philanthropic organization should take up this responsibility for free testing by going to the doorstep of these common men.

Sickle Cell Anemia program was included in National Health Mission (NHM) in 2016 and Hon. Prime Minister announced National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission in July 2023.