Sickle Cell disease major illness for C Africa

UNITED NATIONS - Ghana said here on Monday that Sickle Cell disease is "a major disease entity" for the people in West and Central Africa.

The statement was contained in a speech delivered here by Ghanaian Minister of Health, Joseph Chireh, at the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on the non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

"For us in West and Central Africa, Sickle Cell disease is a major disease entity to content with, with approximately two percent of all our neonates having Sickle Cell disease," the minister said. "As high as ninety percent of these children die before they reach five years if they do not receive any care."

Sickle Cell disease (SCD), also known as sickle-cell anaemia, is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with incomplete dominance, characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape.

Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications.  

In response, Ghana has put in place the national measures to fight Sickle Cell disease, one of the NCDs, the minister said.  "A national Sickle Cell strategic plan has been developed and implementation started with the scaling up of newborn screening, care of sickling children and counseling."