World Sickle Cell Day is June 19th

According to the World Health Organization, most sickle cell affected children born in low-income countries still die undiagnosed, usually from malaria, but things are changing. About 40% of Africa is now urbanised, and improved access to health care is leading to increased survival and rising demand for tertiary hospital services.  Though, Community-based services including information, prophylactic antimalarials or antibiotics, and social support greatly improve survival and quality of life and reduce demand for acute hospital services – in short, it is less costly to make organized care available than not.  If average survival reaches only half the African norm, over six million Africans will be living with a sickle cell disorder (not counting sickle cell trait) – clearly, care for these disorders must become part of primary care wherever they are common.  These statistics do not include Asian countries where community-based preventative services are increasing survival as well.

      Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) affects 3 million individuals in the U.S. and as many as 100 million individuals worldwide. In the U.S., SCT affects approximately 8-10% of African-Americans but can also affect Hispanics, South Asians, Caucasians and people from the Middle East. There is a lot of work to do!  Sickle Cell Lives Matter TM.   WHO

                                    TOVA Community Health

                                                       Primary Specialty Care

                                                               www.tovacommunityhealth.org

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