Kadaga launches 2018 Sickle Cell Run

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has launched the 2018 Sickle Cell Run, calling on Members of Parliament to join the fight against sickle cell disease.

Launching the run at Parliament, Kadaga applauded the Sickle Cell Association of Uganda for the initiative, saying it will complement government efforts in the fight against the disease.

"The government does not have enough facilities to manage sickle cell disease, this is a good start to assist in service delivery" Kadaga said.

Kadaga pledged to mobilise MPs to participate in the run and also mobilise members to contribute sh1,000 each per month towards the construction of a sickle cell treatment centre at Namalere, Kawanda in Wakiso district. They are 452 MPs but Kadaga did not say for how long the MPs would contribute.

The run which is scheduled for September 23^, at Kyandondo Rugby Ground, aims at increasing awareness about the incurable disease and raising funds for the treatment centre.

The secretary of Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, Samuel Opio, who is also the lead organiser, said there was need for awareness on the disease known to be debilitating.

According to Opio, statistics indicate that 20,000 babies are born in Uganda with sickle cell disease every year and 80% die before their 5^th birthday.

"Most of the suffers are the most vulnerable in the community who are unable to access healthcare, so as drug experts, we feel we can help to raise funds to make sickle cell drugs affordable" he said.

During the meeting, Kadaga promised to honour a plea from orgarnisers of the run to advocate for a repeal of the Over the Top Services (OTT) tax which they say will limit access to information on sickle cell disease.

"I am the biggest opponent of those taxes; I have just fought the ban of airtime scratch cards. We need to fight lack of access to information, you can be sure OTT will also be handled" said Kadaga.