President of India Droupadi Murmu attended the International Sickle Cell Day commemoration at Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, on June 19, 2026, and praised India’s progress in combating genetic diseases.
She said the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission represents one of the world’s largest initiatives for genetic disease screening.
Addressing the gathering, the President noted that the mission achieved its screening target ahead of schedule, covering seven crore individuals from newborns to adults up to 40 years of age. She said the effort reflects India’s commitment to preventive healthcare and early diagnosis.
President Murmu stated that screening in mission mode helped identify 2.5 lakh patients with sickle cell disease and over 20 lakh carriers. She urged health authorities to address challenges posed by such a large number of carriers and ensure sustained medical support.
She commended the Central and State governments for their coordinated efforts and highlighted Madhya Pradesh’s record of screening over four lakh women under the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan.” The President also appreciated the state’s “Sickle Mitra” initiative, which trains volunteers, NCC cadets, and organisations to raise awareness and assist patients.
President Murmu expressed confidence that collective efforts across states would help India eliminate sickle cell disease well before 2047, marking a milestone in public health.
