Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Thursday became the first state in the country to roll out a dedicated protocol for the management of pregnant women suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD), a move aimed at reducing maternal health risks and improving pregnancy outcomes, said an official statement issued by the health and family welfare department here on Thursday.The protocol, titled Protocol for Management of Pregnancy with Sickle Cell Disease, was unveiled during a state-level review-cum-dissemination workshop on “Sickle Cell Disease during Pregnancy” organised jointly by National Health Mission (NHM), Directorate of Blood Safety and UNICEF Odisha in Bhubaneswar.Developed through a collaborative effort involving experts from state medical colleges, NHM programme divisions, the health directorate and UNICEF, the protocol outlines clinical guidelines and defines the responsibilities of healthcare providers at different levels of the healthcare system.Officials said Odisha continues to lead the country in screening and detection of sickle cell disease. Since pregnancies affected by SCD carry significantly higher health risks than unaffected pregnancies, timely and systematic interventions are crucial to reducing complications for both mothers and babies.The one-day workshop reviewed the implementation of Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Programme and oriented senior health officials from 21 high-burden districts. Officers and consultants from NHM, along with representatives of development partners including William J Clinton Foundation (WJCF), also participated.During technical sessions, participants reviewed the status of the sickle cell programme, discussed strategies for strengthening screening, treatment and follow-up services, and deliberated on transportation support and other initiatives planned for the current year. The workshop concluded with the formulation of a joint action plan for effective implementation of the new protocol across districts, said official sources.