Sri Vijaya Puram, June 19 : On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day, observed annually on June 19, attention is being drawn to the prevalence of genetic hemoglobin disorders in India, including their relevance in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
While not considered a high-prevalence region for sickle cell anaemia, the Islands are home to genetically distinct tribal groups, some of whom have shown carrier traits for hemoglobin variants in past screenings. This includes disorders such as HbE trait, which can lead to serious health complications when inherited in combination with other defective hemoglobin genes.
Why It Matters to the Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands host several Scheduled Tribe communities, including the Nicobarese, Shompens, and Great Andamanese, who live in relatively isolated gene pools. This isolation can contribute to the silent transmission of recessive genetic disorders like sickle cell anaemia and beta-thalassemia.
Although no public health alerts or widespread cases have been recently reported, studies in earlier years have documented instances of hemoglobin disorders in select pockets of the Islands, particularly among tribal populations in Nicobar. These findings underline the need for localized screening and awareness efforts, especially in areas with limited access to diagnostic services.
Genetic disorders like sickle cell anaemia are inherited, not acquired, and can be passed from healthy carrier parents to children. If both parents carry the same defective gene, their child has a 25% chance of being born with the disease.
What Is Sickle Cell Anaemia?
Sickle cell anaemia is a chronic condition where red blood cells take on an abnormal “sickle” shape, affecting oxygen delivery throughout the body. The disease leads to painful episodes, fatigue, and increased risk of infections. It requires long-term medical care and early diagnosis to manage symptoms.
Carriers of the sickle gene usually show no symptoms but can unknowingly pass on the condition to the next generation. Awareness and timely carrier detection can help in informed family planning, especially in smaller, endogamous populations.
Across India, regions such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and parts of Telangana and Gujarat have recorded higher numbers of sickle cell cases. However, the Government of India’s national target to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047 includes tribal and geographically isolated communities, which makes Andaman and Nicobar Islands part of the larger map of concern.
Screening Matters, Even Without Symptoms
Basic diagnostic tools such as the NESTROFT (Naked Eye Single Tube Red Cell Osmotic Fragility Test) and hemoglobin electrophoresis are available and effective for detecting carrier status. Such tests are non-invasive and can be administered early in adolescence or before marriage.
In the context of the Islands, proactive screening and education among tribal groups, especially in remote areas with minimal health infrastructure, can be an important preventive measure.
On World Sickle Cell Day, the global message of awareness and prevention is particularly relevant for regions like Andaman and Nicobar, where early detection, even without reported disease burden, can help avert future cases.
