Sicklers call for national policy
Oct 21, 2009
PEOPLE suffering from sickle-cell anaemia have petitioned Parliament, demanding a national policy on sickle-cell treatment.
By Jude Kafuuma
PEOPLE suffering from sickle-cell anaemia have petitioned Parliament, demanding a national policy on sickle-cell treatment.
Sickle-cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder that causes shortage of red blood cells and periodic pain. Studies indicate that 39% of Ugandans have the disease with the highest prevalence in Bundibugyo district.Over 25,000 children in Uganda are born with sickle-cell every year.
“We want a policy on sickle-cell treatment. We would also like to see an education policy that favours children suffering from the disease,†read the petition.
Members of the Sickle Cells Initiative led by their chairperson, Joyce Mpanga, presented the petition to the social services committee yesterday.
“We want to see care available to sufferers 24-hours in all hospitals and adequate staffing of the clinic at Mulago,†Mpanga said.
They also demanded free screening in national and private hospitals.
The only sickle-cell clinic, started at Mulago in 1971, has four doctors.
One of these is a volunteer retired doctor, while the other left for further studies.
According to Dr. Christopher Ndugwa, who has worked at the centre since 1979, over 6,000 patients are registered and about 500 visit the clinic every day.
“Sickle cell is worse than HIV/AIDS, which can be prevented through abstinence and healthy relationships. Sickle cell is inherited and its spread is difficult to control,†Ndugwa said.
The petition indicated that the centre, currently in a make-shift structure, plans to build permanent premises worth sh350m.
On average, 20% of Ugandans are said to be carriers of the sickle-cell gene.
“Karamoja has the lowest prevalence of 5%,†Ndugwa said.
He said chances of a sickle-cell career having a child with the gene are 25% and those of having a normal child are also 25%. Chances of a career giving birth to a career are 50%. Men contribute 50% to the genes and women also contribute 50%.
PEOPLE suffering from sickle-cell anaemia have petitioned Parliament, demanding a national policy on sickle-cell treatment.
Sickle-cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder that causes shortage of red blood cells and periodic pain. Studies indicate that 39% of Ugandans have the disease with the highest prevalence in Bundibugyo district.Over 25,000 children in Uganda are born with sickle-cell every year.
“We want a policy on sickle-cell treatment. We would also like to see an education policy that favours children suffering from the disease,†read the petition.
Members of the Sickle Cells Initiative led by their chairperson, Joyce Mpanga, presented the petition to the social services committee yesterday.
“We want to see care available to sufferers 24-hours in all hospitals and adequate staffing of the clinic at Mulago,†Mpanga said.
They also demanded free screening in national and private hospitals.
The only sickle-cell clinic, started at Mulago in 1971, has four doctors.
One of these is a volunteer retired doctor, while the other left for further studies.
According to Dr. Christopher Ndugwa, who has worked at the centre since 1979, over 6,000 patients are registered and about 500 visit the clinic every day.
“Sickle cell is worse than HIV/AIDS, which can be prevented through abstinence and healthy relationships. Sickle cell is inherited and its spread is difficult to control,†Ndugwa said.
The petition indicated that the centre, currently in a make-shift structure, plans to build permanent premises worth sh350m.
On average, 20% of Ugandans are said to be carriers of the sickle-cell gene.
“Karamoja has the lowest prevalence of 5%,†Ndugwa said.
He said chances of a sickle-cell career having a child with the gene are 25% and those of having a normal child are also 25%. Chances of a career giving birth to a career are 50%. Men contribute 50% to the genes and women also contribute 50%.