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Monday, July 21, 2014

By Coleen Torres


Sickle cell disease is a major concern especially in most of sub-Saharan Africa. This complication has no proven cure to curb it. However, there are precautions which managed properly would result into a patient living longer. Sickle cell disease prevention can be done through several means. Major departments in the world have taken responsibility over the matter by some giving primary prevention through general public awareness as well as counselling.

Hemoglobin in the red blood cells are affected by the disease. In addition, this illness is genetic meaning that it is passed from one generation to the other. There is a significant possibility of you getting the sickness if your family or parents had it. The pains and different complications interferes with the normal life like psychological development, employment and education. Carrying out early screening is vital as it aids reduce the effects of the illness.

The sickle cell trait is spreading faster than expected reaching highest of its prevalence in many parts of Africa and among individuals possessing equatorial Africa origins, Saudi Arabia and the Mediterranean basin. In Africa, most prevalence of the disease trait occurs in between latitudes 15 degrees North and 20 degrees south. The population affected ranges between forty percent and ten percent in some areas.

What the way forward in curbing this severe disease? The national sickle cell illness control programs ought to be strengthened. This ought to be under the framework of national programs for the prevention as well as control of non-communicable diseases. This programs should be effected in affected countries.

By setting of sickle cell screening and genetic counselling programs especially in the affected countries, the disease is controlled. The sickness ought to be identified in prenatal stages which involves the screening program. Counseling, health and the above mentioned services should be made available to the affected areas as well as countries. There is raising of ethical and cultural issues from diagnosis of this illness.

The screening as well as genetic counseling leads to substantial reduction of the number of kids born with this trait. In other words, management of this particular disease at different levels of heath care ought to be emphasized too. Some of these health cares use simple and affordable technology hence can be accessible by a larger proportion of the community.

In addition there must be training of health personnel in diagnosis, prevention while the case management ought to ensure these health cares are able to provide affected people with the basic requirements of these services. The national program should involve community based care and families who are an integral part of the activity. Again, there should be active established research and surveillance which are vital components of this program. The got information should be disseminated and used in making of policies of management of all carried out programs.

To conclude, partnership between health professionals, parents and patients should be strengthened. This partnership tend to facilitate the identification of genetic risks in the affected communities, record the family diseases history and create awareness among the people.




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