In a function at the Pant Shah Kutir hospital in Jawahar, Mundada asked people to start voluntary blood testing so that the spread of sickle cell in the tribal community could be stopped.

The disease is predominantly found in tribals. A survey in Thane district found a prevalence rate of 2-3 per cent.

While the state government provides absolutely free treatment for those affected with the disease, attempts are now being made to stop the spread of the disease.

The sickle cell prevention programme was initially kicked off in the Nashik, Nandurbar, Amravati, Gondia, Gadchiroli and Thane. And the second phase will cover nine other tribal districts and will be extended to the entire state in the third phase.

Mundada said the state government would soon fill in all the vacant posts in the hospital. NGOs have been roped in to spread awareness among the public.