At an international meet on the disease, experts said that the lack of awareness about sickle cell anaemia disorder is the main cause of increasing number of patients all over the world.

More and more people were succumbing to sickle cell anaemia every year in poor nation as the majority of the sufferers who reside in illiteracy-hit pockets are not turning up at health centres for blood examinations and thus end up trasmitting the illness to their kids.

Former president A. P. J. Abdul Kalam inaugurated the six-day 4th International Sickle Cell Congress in company of Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, Governor Shekhar Dutt and state Health Minister Amar Agrawal.

Over 250 experts from India and abroad are attending the convention.

The reports showed that over 50 percent of children in Chhattisgarh affected by the disease die before the age of five.

The sickle cell anaemia is an inherited form of blood disorder, which reduces the flexibility of cells and leads to serious complications.

The undiagnosed children might suffer from bacterial and malarial infections that can even kill young children.

P. K. Patra said, "'Chhattisgarh should be considered a nucleus of the sickle cell disorder in India, though it is also prevalent in Maharashtra, Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Andhra Pradesh."