The Sickle Cell Disease Prevention

By Coleen Torres


Sickle cell disease is a major concern especially in most of sub-Saharan Africa. This complication has no proven cure to curb it. However, there are precautions which managed properly would result into a patient living longer. Sickle cell disease prevention can be done through several means. Major departments in the world have taken responsibility over the matter by some giving primary prevention through general public awareness as well as counselling.

Hemoglobin in the red blood cells are affected by the disease. In addition, this illness is genetic meaning that it is passed from one generation to the other. There is a significant possibility of you getting the sickness if your family or parents had it. The pains and different complications interferes with the normal life like psychological development, employment and education. Carrying out early screening is vital as it aids reduce the effects of the illness.

The sickle cell trait is spreading faster than expected reaching highest of its prevalence in many parts of Africa and among individuals possessing equatorial Africa origins, Saudi Arabia and the Mediterranean basin. In Africa, most prevalence of the disease trait occurs in between latitudes 15 degrees North and 20 degrees south. The population affected ranges between forty percent and ten percent in some areas.

People are confused on what way to take to control this disease. There are national programs set to control sickle cell sickness and therefore ought to be strengthened. The national program for prevention and control of non communicable diseases is the framework under which the set programs to control the illness are. The affected countries should be equipped with these programs.

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.

Training of individuals to diagnosis, prevent as the case management ensures that the health cares provide the affected people with the required basic services. The responsibility to involve the community-based care and families should be left to the national program. These inclusions are part and parcel of making these programs be successful. The set research as well as surveillance should be taken serious as they play a huge role.

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.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

top