ECHO India, a non-profit organisation committed to strengthening healthcare capacity in India, has teamed up with the Post Graduate Institute of Child Health (PGICH) Noida to launch a nationwide programme focussed on the Prevention and Control of Beta Thalassemia and other Hemoglobinopathies.

The programme, which was initiated through a two-day comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT), will be implemented as a part of a nationwide collaborative initiative.

Under this programme, NHM Madhya Pradesh, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will act as knowledge partners, and ECHO India has also onboarded the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) as an academic partner.

PGICH, a leading paediatric institute established by the Uttar Pradesh Government, will serve as the National Hub for ECHO India's programme. This initiative aims to equip healthcare workers across the country with the necessary skills to prevent and manage Beta Thalassemia and other Hemoglobinopathies, particularly in remote and underserved regions of the country.

The launch of the programme was attended by Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda, who highlighted the importance of capacity building to address the challenges posed by these life-threatening conditions.