Omkareshwar, June 19 -- President of India Droupadi Murmu on Friday graced the International Sickle Cell Day commemoration event, highlighting the scale and impact of India's ongoing efforts under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said the observance of International Sickle Cell Day marks a meaningful step towards addressing a major health challenge. She noted that the target of screening under the mission has been achieved ahead of schedule, calling it one of the largest initiatives for genetic disease screening globally.

The President stated that around seven crore people, including newborns and individuals up to 40 years of age, have been screened under the programme. She sa...