OneSCD: Global Partnership for Sickle Cell Care

ONESCD: GLOBAL COOPERATION FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Why in the News?

India recently co-hosted the launch of OneSCD on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. The initiative is a global partnership aimed at strengthening country-led programmes for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and improving equitable access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.

OneSCD: Global Partnership for Sickle Cell Care

ONESCD AND GLOBAL SICKLE CELL DISEASE COOPERATION

  • Global Partnership: OneSCD is a multilateral coordination mechanism designed to strengthen existing national SCD programmes and expand access to proven approaches for prevention and care.
  • International Collaboration: The partnership brings together governments, UN agencies, health experts, civil society and people with lived experience of sickle cell disease.
  • Institutional Support: OneSCD is hosted by Nigeria and co-organised with organisations including UNICEF, WHO, Africa CDC, World Coalition on Sickle Cell Disease and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
  • Healthcare Access: Its focus extends across the SCD care continuum, including prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and continuing healthcare, particularly for underserved populations.
  • Health Equity: The initiative seeks to advance health equity by strengthening international cooperation and supporting countries in scaling effective, country-led interventions.

SICKLE CELL DISEASE: MECHANISM AND HEALTH IMPACT

  • Genetic Disorder: SCD is an inherited blood disorder caused by changes in the gene responsible for producing haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.
  • Abnormal Haemoglobin: The condition produces haemoglobin S, which can cause red blood cells to become rigid and assume a characteristic sickle or crescent shape.
  • Vascular Blockage: Sickled red blood cells can become less flexible and obstruct small blood vessels, reducing blood and oxygen supply to tissues and organs.
  • Clinical Symptoms: Common manifestations include anaemia, severe pain episodes, swelling of hands and feet, jaundice, infections and progressive organ damage.
  • Major Complications: Repeated obstruction and reduced oxygen delivery can cause chronic organ damage, making early diagnosis and continuous medical management important.

SICKLE CELL DISEASE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN INDIA

●      Inheritance Pattern: SCD follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, meaning disease generally develops when an individual inherits affected gene variants from both parents.

●      Carrier State: Individuals carrying one affected gene copy generally have sickle cell trait, which differs from sickle cell disease and has important implications for genetic counselling.

●      Tribal Health: In India, SCD has a significant burden among several tribal and other vulnerable populations, particularly in parts of central, western and southern India.

●      National Mission: The National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 seeks to strengthen screening, counselling, prevention and comprehensive management of the disease.

●      Treatment Advances: Hydroxyurea, blood transfusions and supportive care can manage SCD, while haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation can potentially provide a cure for selected patients; newer gene therapies are also being developed.