Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders (UMMID)

UMMID:

• UMMID stands for Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders.
• DBT has started the UMMID Initiative which is designed on the concept of ‘Prevention is better than Cure’.
• Taking into account the congenital and hereditary genetic diseases are becoming a significant health burden in India, and realizing the need for adequate and effective genetic testing and counselling services.

Aims of the initiative:

• to establish NIDAN Kendras to provide counselling, prenatal testing and diagnosis, management, and multidisciplinary care in Government Hospitals wherein the influx of patients is more,
• to produce skilled clinicians in Human Genetics, and
• to undertake screening of pregnant women and newborn babies for inherited genetic diseases in hospitals at aspirational districts.

Why such an initiative?

• In India’s urban areas, congenital malformations and genetic disorders are the third most common cause of mortality in newborns.
• With a very large population and high birth rate, and consanguineous marriage favored in many communities, prevalence of genetic disorders is high in India.

NIDAN (National Inherited Diseases Administration) Kendras:

• As a part of this initiative, in the first phase, five NIDAN Kendras have been established to provide comprehensive clinical care.
• Screening of 10,000 pregnant women and 5000 newborn babies per year for inherited genetic diseases will be taken up at the following seven aspirational districts.