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Monday, 14 July 2014

Sickle Cell Disease Prevention In The Affected Areas

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By Coleen Torres


The sickle cell has been and is a major concern in the sub Saharan Africa threatening the lives of many. Up to now, no medication or proven cure has been established. This however is not the end of the affected. There has been much done to come up with preventive measures to ensure that the victims embrace a normal life. Once the given precautions are put into consideration, there is a big chance of the patient managing the disease effectively. Sickle cell disease prevention has had many people coming up with their ideologies on what should be done to curb it. Many departments have taken the initiative of giving primary prevention by creating public awareness and counselling.

The disease affects the hemoglobin in red blood cells and is genetic as well. This means that it is passed from one generation to another. If your parents happen to have it, then there is all possibility that you will be affected too. There is much complication especially pains which in return interferes with vital aspects of life. They include, education, psychological development and employment. Early screening is very important as it helps to reduce its effects.

In most parts of Saudi Arabia, Mediterranean basin, some parts of Africa among those people having equatorial Africa origins, the cell trait is spreading at an alarming rate. For instance in Africa, the most affected individuals are those around areas of latitudes fifteen degrees North as well as twenty degrees south. In several areas, population experiencing this sickness ranges between 10 percent and 40 percent.

Controlling this disease has not been easy to either the affected individuals or the doctors who are working day and night. The existence of national programs put in place to control the sickle cell sickness has helped much and should therefore be strengthened. The set programs to control this illness are under the framework of national programs for preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases.

Prevention of this illness therefore entails the setting up the cell screening as well as genetic counseling in countries with high prevalence. Ideally, this disease ought to be identified in the prenatal stage as part of screening program. These vital services should be availed together with health and counseling education. The diagnosis of this sickness raises ethical and to some point cultural issues but differ from one area/ country to another.

Genetic counselling and screening helps in reducing the number of children born with the trait. There is much emphasize on management of this disease at different levels health care. This is because the health cares tend to use affordable and simple technology therefore making the services available to the larger community.

It is important to train people who should diagnose, prevent and manage it in the health cares. They also tasked in providing them with the basic requirements. It is again good to involve families and community based cares in this program. They play a huge raising of awareness to others and disseminating the necessary requirements.

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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