Uganda starts sickle cell screening among newborn

As the world is set to commemorate Sickle Cell Day, Uganda has started to screening for the sickle cell among newborns in a bid to reduce the burden of the disease.

Uganda in a statement on Friday ahead of the day that falls annually on June 19 said screening is taking place in high burden districts mainly in northern and eastern part of the country covering a total of 274 health facilities.

"So far over 50,000 newborn babies have been tested. Health workers in these facilities have been trained in sickle cell management and sickle cell clinics have been opened up," the ministry of health said, adding that the clinics have been equipped with prophylactic drugs like penicillin, anti-malarials, and folic acid among others.

The ministry also said there has been mass sensitization campaigns to create more awareness about the disease amongst communities.

"Mass screening campaigns and counseling have also been conducted in several districts. Pre-marital counseling and testing is being promoted in collaboration with religious leaders," the statement.

The ministry also plans to implement a policy to administer pneumococcal vaccine to children with sickle cell disease above two years to protect them from recurrent infections.

The World Health Organization declared sickle cell disease as a major public health problem for sub-Saharan Africa.

Ministry of health figures indicate that 15,000 to 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease every year in Uganda, and 80 percent of them die before their fifth birthday.

"If we work together, we will defeat sickle cell disease and come to a time when the incidence of sickle cell disease drops to the minimum and no more sickle cell related deaths, with improved health to the sicklers," the statement said. Endit