Medical test for sickle cell anemia is now available at Rapti Provincial Hospital Tulasipur of Dang district.
The hospital started this service with the installation of the 'electrophoresis' machine with the financial assistance of the Province 5 government and the Tulasipur Sub-Metropolitan City. This is the first time this service has been made available in Dang district.
Officiating medical superintendent Dr Sarbesh Sharma said the device was purchased for Rs 1.8 million. The Province 5 government had contributed Rs one million while the Sub-Metropolitan City provided Rs 800,000.
According to him, all tests for sickle cell anemia would be provided from the hospital with the availability of the modern electrophoresis machine and the patients with this condition would be referred for medication.
Dang district with Tharu majority population lacked the diagnostic device for sickle cell anemia before this and the people had to either travel to Nepalgunj or Kathmandu for tests. Many patients also did not show interest for undergoing the test as they had to go outside their district which they could not afford to.
This genetic disease is found mostly in the Tharu community.
