Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has launched the Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa-CONSA, a network that seeks to demonstrate the benefits of newborn screening and early interventions for children with sickle cell disease, for the Lango sub-region. CONSA will combine newborn screening and early intervention using …
Read More »Caretakers of sicklers decry high price of hydroxyurea
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Caretakers of sickle cell anemia patients in Gulu district have decried what they call the prohibitive price of hydroxyurea, a drug believed to greatly reduce painful episodes in people with sickle cell. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to form …
Read More »Teachers attitude chasing sicklers from school
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Many children battling sickle cell disease fail to find peace in schools due to stigmatization from teachers who regard them worthless before other children. Sicklers claim that teachers describe them as feeble children who cannot succeed in life like normal students, on top of …
Read More »Sicklers struggle to afford new pain relieving treatment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Thirteen year old Jeremy is the latest user of new pain relieving treatment for sickle cell disease that involves draining out most of his blood replacing it with healthy blood using a machine, a procedure known as red blood cell exchange apheresis. His mother …
Read More »Mukono residents yearn for free sickle cell disease tests
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The absence of free testing kits frustrated hundreds of people who turned up to test for sickle cell disease in Mukono as the world commemorated the World Sickle Cell Awareness on Friday. Many wanted to utilize a health camp organized in Nantabulirwa-Seeta by Sarafina …
Read More »Ministry of Health launches sickle cell treatment guidelines
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has launched the first-ever treatment guidelines for sickle cell disease to standardize the kind of care health workers give patients at specific points of care. Launched at an event to mark the International Sickle Cell day on Friday afternoon, Dr …
Read More »Buganda Kingdom Deputy Premier seeks more research on evolution of sickle cell
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Buganda Kingdom Deputy Premier Hajji Doctor Twaha Kawaase has asked researchers to conduct further studies on the genetic evolution of Sickle cell disease, to create a deeper understanding of its manifestation among diverse multicultural communities. Dr Kawaase specifically wants researchers to consider a more …
Read More »Over 70% using herbal medicine to treat sickle cells
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Many people living with sickle cell disease are using herbal medicine and not opening up to health workers. Releasing results of the study started in March to establish the extent of herbal medicine use among patients seeking treatment at the sickle cell clinic of …
Read More »Districts with highest sickle cell disease traits identified
Uganda’s Ministry of Health has embarked on a comprehensive program aimed at reducing the burden of the sickle cell disease in the country. While presenting a statement before parliament on the burden of the disease in the country, Minister Dr.Jane Ruth Aceng said the program will involve testing of new born …
Read More »Tackling sickle cell disease
Uganda gets technology, improved care to extend life for sufferers When Evelyn Mwesigwa, a social worker thought of settling down – marrying and having children, she considered a lot of things. Religion, love, respect and of course her partner’s HIV status. What never crossed her mind was a sickle …
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