**Chimur,(March 17)*- Today marked a significant milestone in public health initiatives as a screening camp for sickle cell anemia carriers and a hands-on hemoglobin electrophoresis workshop were conducted at Gramgeeta Mahavidyalaya. This event, which is the 92nd screening camp and the fourth workshop on hemoglobin electrophoresis in this ongoing series, saw participation from over 50 graduate students from Gramgeeta Mahavidyalaya and Nawargaon College.
The initiative is part of a larger project launched by Dr. Devendra Lingojwar, Project Director and Principal Investigator for Sickle Cell Anemia Prevention in Chandrapur, which is brought for Chandrapur by NIBMR Pune and work order being executed by ADEETECHGENE BIOTECH PVT. LTD. Pune in collaboration with RESEARCH NGO Pune which is working on sickle cell disease in the state of maharashtra since 2004-05.
This CSR project is sponsored by the ONGC Foundation, New Delhi. The overarching goal is to screen students from schools and colleges across selected villages in Chandrapur for sickle cell disease and to train graduate students in diagnostic techniques through workshops in Pune, where necessary instruments have also been donated by ONGC Foundation.
Since the inception of the project, Dr. Lingojwar and his team have successfully screened a total of around 8000 samples in the district. The latest workshop on hemoglobin electrophoresis, hosted at Gramgeeta Mahavidyalaya, aimed to provide students with hands-on experience crucial for their future careers in the diagnostics field.
In her presidential address during the concluding session of the workshop, Principal Dr. Aswale emphasized the importance of health education in combating stigma and misconceptions surrounding sickle cell anemia. “Health education is a vital component in not only raising awareness but also in eliminating the stigma associated with this condition,” she remarked.
Dr. Nilesh Thaokar, Head of the Zoology Department and a key coordinator for the project in Chimur, highlighted the necessity of student involvement in such initiatives. “The participation of students in these hands-on workshops is crucial not only for the success of our screening program but also for their own professional development in the field of diagnostics,” he stated.
The event culminated with a vote of thanks from Ms. Pranali of Gramgeeta Mahavidyalaya, who acknowledged the efforts of all participants and organizers. The workshops and screening camps are part of a broader mission aimed at developing the next generation of scientists from the Chandrapur District, equipping them to contribute to national initiatives for the prevention of sickle cell anemia.
As the project progresses, it aims to instill a sense of responsibility and knowledge among graduate volunteers, fostering a community committed to the long-term goal of sickle cell anemia elimination in the region.
