The Maharashtra Government is launching a special screening drive in 21 districts with high prevalence of sickle cell from today, which will continue till 27 February. According to the State Health Department, the ‘Arunoday’ campaign aims to ensure not a single individual is left out of the screening exercise. The health department emphasised the importance of early detection of the sickle cell and treatment. The health department stated that nearly 1.6 crore people were screened from 2019 to October 2025, and most of them hailed from tribal dominated districts. Of these, 12,420 were sickle cell patients and 1,24,275 sickle cell carriers.