Douala: Group donates healthcare necessities to sickle cell patients.

The president of the association, Blandine Frunji, told reporters that the support offered the sickle cell patients by Bonafide Ladies is intended to elevate care for individuals affected by the killer disease at the centre.

Frunji said each year, they carry out at least four humanitarian projects and the visit to the sickle cell centre was part of their charitable work for the 2024. 

The ladies made rounds in the various wards at the centre and at each stop, they handed packs of gifts and also offered moral boosting words to both patients and the caregivers.

“We have come to visit the patients at the hospital to distribute basic health necessities, while encouraging them not to give up on hope. Our activity is part of this year’s edition of the Sickle Cell Day,” Frunji said.

On the importance of the day set aside to sickle cell patients, she said: “The goal of this day is to recognise sickle cell anemia is a public health problem and promote education about this genetic condition. By doing this, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those affected by this challenging condition”. 

It should be noted that Sickle Cell Disease, SCD, remains a significant, yet largely neglected global health crisis, impacting millions of people worldwide. 

Every year on June 19, countries throughout the world unite to celebrate World Sickle Cell Day.  The international awareness day is observed to increase public knowledge of SCD.

Globally, SCD affects millions of people of every race and ethnicity, although Africa has a large proportion of affected individuals. 

The day provides an opportunity to focus on equitable delivery of health care to this patient population to improve health outcomes.

The Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organisations, GASCDO, recently announced the theme for World Sickle Cell Day 2024. It is “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally”.

Medics have posited that this year’s theme for World Sickle Cell Day highlights the significant progress in SCD research while acknowledging persistent challenges and fostering hope.

The medical officer in charge of the Specialised Sickle Cell Centre at the Laquintini hospital, Dr Charlotte Eposse Ella, said World Sickle Cell Day is an important day for shedding more light on the disease.

She also stated the importance of the day, adding that it brings attention and awareness to the challenges and struggles that are experienced by patients with SCD as well as their families.

The Specialised Centre at the Laquintini hospital, it was said, had the capacity of consulting some 250 patients on a monthly base. The centre has nine equipped wards with capacity of receiving 20 patients.

Unveiling the planned activities, Dr Charlotte Eposse Ella said they will be running a free campaign from June 18 to 20, 2024. 

She used the opportunity to thank the Bonafide Ladies of Substance for their kind gesture and called on the youth to know their genotype in order to avoid making babies with the wrong blood group partner.

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3145 of Friday June 21, 2024