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Among the 64 people who received the 2024 Padma awards from President Droupadi Murmu on April 22, 2024 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, microbiologist Dr Yazdi Italia stood out clad in a white dagli and pheta. "I like to show my Parsipanu,” the Padma Shri awardee told us. It was a mixed group of awardees: former vice president of India M. Venkaiah Naidu (Padma Vibhushan), actor and former member of Parliament Mithun Chakraborty, politician Ram Naik and popular entertainer Usha Uthup (Padma Bhushans) among others. "(The event) was extremely well organized… There was a drill in the morning of the event… (The main event) was over in an hour and 10 minutes…Then we had time to mingle and meet with the other awardees.” The scientist said, "They gave us all a lot of respect and honor.” 

  wife Kety and daughter Dr Khushnooma Italia 

The Valsad-based awardee, recognized for his work on the detection and control of sickle cell disease (SCD), mainly among tribals in Gujarat, told us a few days after the award was announced on January 26 that his motto is "bringing science to the doorstep of the tribal community.” A pioneer of the sickle cell anemia control program of the government of Gujarat, Italia said it has helped "reduce the agony caused by SCD by reducing morbidity, mortality, and prevention of new births with SCD.” 

SCD is a genetic disorder in which red blood cells in humans contort into a sickle shape. These cells die early, creating a shortage of healthy red blood cells and can block blood flow causing pain. The symptoms of SCD are frequent infections, pain and fatigue; treatment includes medication, blood transfusions and bone-marrow transplants. The scientist has ensured, with the patronage of the state government, that all SCD patients in tribal areas receive an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines such as folic acid, analgesics and hydroxyurea throughout their lives.

We asked Italia whether Parsis are prone to SCD. He responded that he has detected the disease in at least two Parsi males in the Vansda area. "Iron deficiency is the first manifestation of SCD. Unfortunately, many doctors are unable to diagnose SCD correctly; they treat it using iron supplements, which is contraindicated,” he cautioned. 

Parsiana queried Italia what difference the award would make to his work. With a hearty laugh he replied: "No difference to my work… Only increases jealousy… When you work with your colleagues and you get an award, peers may envy you,” leading to friction in the work place. He said he was quoting Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who told him this while presenting him yet another award, from NDTV — Health Leader of the Year, in April this year. 

The control program that Italia started in Gujarat has now evolved into a national one "that includes diagnosis, counseling, treatment and prevention at the village level,” thereby "promoting good health and happiness.” He told us that the union government has a vision to achieve a ‘Zero Birth Rate’ for SCD by 2047, which he said is "very achievable.”  

Founder-trustee at Valsad Raktdan Kendra (VRK), a nongovernmental organization that works in the area of voluntary blood banking and hematological research, the Kendra has helped develop training material in Gujarati. All services for the disorder, including blood transfusion, are free of cost for all employees in government facilities all over India, as mandated by the government, he shared.  

As a researcher, Italia encountered Gujarat’s first SCD patient at Valsad in 1978. "Within a short time, I realized that it is common in different tribal groups.Underprivileged, poor and uneducated people would never spend their money to go to any laboratory for a blood test...and would remain undiagnosed and wrongly treated by physicians,” he told Parsiana. His first two patients survived till the ages of 76 and 80 years respectively "with better life spans due to counseling and regular follow-up…”

A 1988 survey, in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research, of unrelated tribal families revealed a 15% incidence of the sickle gene. Based on this evidence, Italia urged the district and state government health authorities to initiate a comprehensive program. Study tours in 1991 to Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, USA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Atlanta followed. 

The Gujarat Commissionerate of Health’s programs on anemia, for which Italia is an advisor, was recognized in 2011 with the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration. The scientist was felicitated with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the  valedictory  function  of  the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohaematology's 44th national conference (see "Accolades for anemia care,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, February 21-March 6, 2020). In 2023, the Gujarat government bestowed on Italia the Chief Minister’s award for his significant contributions towards healthcare. 

The translational (a subset of applied research, translational research is aimed at translating results in basic research into results that directly benefit humans) scientist was born in 1950 in Chikhli, Gujarat. On completion of matriculation at Chikhli’s B. E. Italia Sarvajanik High School, Italia graduated from Navsari’s B. P. Baria Science Institute and completed his doctorate from Bombay’s Institute of Science in 2024. Married to Kety, a home maker, their daughter Dr Khushnooma holds a doctorate in biochemistry, with a specialization in thalassemia and SCD, with 38 papers to her credit.

"My wife has suffered a lot… I have not given her enough time at the start of my career due to my long working hours…often till midnight,” stated Italia. "My daughter has taught me a lot too… she has been very supportive in my lab work.”