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Govt asked to improve sickle cell treatment

Monday, 21st June, 2010
By Andante Okanya

THE Government should improve the facilities for treating people with sickle cell anaemia to enable them live a comfortable life, the chairperson and founder of the Sickle Cell Association of Uganda (SAU) has said.

“In Uganda, we have only one sickle cell unit and this is at Mulago. The Government has to do more to invest in a fully-equipped unit,” Ruth Nankanja said on Saturday.

She was speaking at a press conference held at the proposed SAU centre at Kawanda-Namalere in Wakiso district to mark the World Sickle Cell Day on June 19.

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder where red blood cells form an abnormal and rigid sickle shape. It is hereditary and affects millions of persons globally.

Nankanja called for extensive research on the condition, saying many people are dying, yet they can be saved.

According to SAU, 20% of Ugandans carry the sickle cell gene, while over 30,000 babies are born with sickle cells.

Some of the symptoms of the disease include yellowing of the whites of the eyes (jaundice), severe pain and swelling of the fingers and toes and body tissue damage.

According to the World Health Organisation, the disease causes 60% of deaths worldwide, with 80% occurring in low and middle-income countries.

Nankanja urged the Government to follow Ghana’s example, which this year started screening babies for the disease, such that treatment is started as soon as the condition is detected.

SAU has also scheduled a sickle cell awareness and educational week which will run from July 26 to 30.

One of the activities lined up is a corporate fundraising dinner for the construction of a modern sickle cell centre at Kawanda-Namalere.

Currently, tests for sickle cell are carried out in clinics in Kampala at sh30,000.

In October 2008, Miriam Mulumba, now aged 9, became the first Ugandan to be cured of the sickle cell disease after undergoing a bone marrow transplant operation.

The operation, carried out in the US, cost $250,000 (sh500m), and was paid for by the US Airforce.

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/723421


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