Tribal India Health Foundation & Association for Health Welfare in the Nilgiris

Sickle Cell Disease Center

TIHF/GAH SCD Center Screening and Treatment Data Site

TIHF/GAH Sickle Cell Center Brochure

The mission of the Sickle Cell Disease Center, based at the Gudalur Adivasi Hospital, is to combine research with immediate clinical and community-based interventions to combat the spread of sickle-cell anemia in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India. The Center, along with its partner organizations, aims to implement and promote a holistic model of sickle-cell management which could be of use to other similarly affected communities in India and throughout the world. 

Our patient-oriented services include:

· Center-based neonatal (<1 year) and adult (>1 year) screening for sickle-cell disease

· Issuing genetic health cards to patients screened for sickle-cell anemia

· Maintaining computerized and up-to-date genetic documentation of the Nilgiri area in collaboration with partner organizations 

· Maintaining and distributing current diagnostic and treatment protocols for sickle-cell disease 

· Field-based identification and monitoring of sickle-cell patients

· Immunization and sustained treatment of sickle-cell patients

· Provision of a sickle-cell disability fund to patients

· Prospective and retrospective genetic counseling (under construction)

· Field and Center-based sickle-cell education programs

Our research interests include:

· Investigating the efficacy of hydroxyurea and Pneumo-23 on sickle-cell patients of the target area