Sickle Cell in Africa ? The forgotten Disease.

Sickle Cell in Africa ? The forgotten Disease.

Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors have begun an African project to help provide information, advice, support, creating awareness and teaching coping skills to children, young people and their families as well as encouraging the public to find out what their genotype is so that Sickle births can be prevented.
According to the World Health Organisation's map, Nigeria is one of the worst affected countries in the world, where it has been estimated that 1:4 have Sickle Cell disease. As the health care system is inadequate and poorly managed for those affected by sickle cell there is a high infant mortality rate with many children not attaining their fifth birthday, when they do survive the average age is still only 25 years.
Sickle Cell and Young Stroke Survivors have set up a Center in Eastern Nigeria called CarDan Sickle Cell Center. The Center which is based in Owerri, Imo state (the population is 3.9 million) Imo state is more central to other Eastern states where the total population is about 38 million, hence the location of CarDan Sickle Cell Center at Owerri. This is the main Center and with time mini Centers will be replicated in villages and rural areas identified as having a high need from our outreach programmes.
This is a neglected area which has a high concentration of infant mortality due to Sickle Cell Disease, community hospitals are not equipped to diagnose children at birth and by the time diagnoses is made children are dead from mostly ruptured spleen, pnemocoli bacteria or malaria. Obstacles to Sickle Cell survival include infections, parasitic diseases, malnutrition, poverty, lack of awareness, lack of medical care, lack of drugs and illiteracy - all resulting in the early death of Sickle cell sufferers.
CarDan Sickle Cell Center aims to provide advice, information, support and education on coping skills and prevention of Sickle Cell births in Nigeria. This is
1. to reduce the death rates among young children with Sickle Cell Anaemia
2. to offer preventive medication ? Immunisations, Penicillin, Folic acid, Numovac injection to prevent infections and ill health.
3. to help children receive medical treatment and education.
4. to improve the well-being of children and adults with Sickle Cell.
5. to effectively use volunteers as a major factor in educating and informing the public about Sickle Cell anaemia, sickle trait and other syndromes.
6. to strengthen the capacity of women in taking care of their affected children.