Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis made an important announcement during the inaugural ceremony of the centre for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassaemia in Nagpur recently.

While reiterating the government’s emphasis to provide more facilities to children suffering from genetic blood disorders, he also announced a financial aid of up to Rs 3 lakh for children who require expensive bone marrow transplant.

As reported by TOI, set up on the premises of Child Care Centre and Hospital in Jaripatka by the Thalassaemia Society of Central India (TSCI), the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre was inaugurated by the chief minister on Sunday in the presence of guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and MLA Dr Milind Mane. President of the society Dr Vinky Rughwani told the political leaders present about the various difficulties of kids suffering from generic blood disorders.

Dr Vinky has further implied that even though there are huge number of patients suffering from genetic blood disorders in the region, the government medical colleges are not yet equipped to handle it. Some of the hospitals even don’t have the facility to separate blood components. He also stressed on the expensive bone marrow transplant procedures held frequently here.

As quoted by TOI, "Despite the big number of patients of these diseases in the region, government hospitals like Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) and Daga Hospital don't even have the facility to separate blood components," said Dr Rughwani.

It was at his behest that Fadnavis promised to raise the funds given to such people under chief minister's health relief fund from Rs50,000 to Rs3 lakh. "Our government has worked towards providing various facilities to people suffering from genetic blood disorders. During the winter assembly of the state legislature we have announced the formation of a centre of excellence for sickle cell disease. We have recently given Rs10 crore to state transport authority to enable SCD patients to travel for free in ST buses, " said Fadnavis.