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Makerere University researchers are committed to addressing the rising challenges of sickle cell disease in Uganda. Following an increase in patients at Mulago Hospital, the university plans to lead efforts in combating the disease through research, innovative solutions, and healthcare professional training.

Researchers from Makerere University have pledged to address the escalating challenges faced by Ugandans afflicted with sickle cell disease through groundbreaking research and innovative solutions.

This commitment follows a disclosure from Mulago Hospital regarding the surge in sickle cell patients at the Mulago Hospital’s sickle cell clinic.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells that can impede blood flow, restricting the delivery of oxygen to various parts of the body.

Individuals with sickle cell disease often endure pain crises, anemia, infections, and long-term organ damage. Furthermore, SCD significantly impacts various aspects of life, including academic achievements, employment, marriage, and social interactions.

Addressing stakeholders during a sickle cell disease engagement event at Makerere University, Vice Chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe shared personal experiences witnessing the plight of relatives grappling with the disease. He stressed the urgency of addressing SCD due to its pervasive impact on diverse aspects of life.

While acknowledging existing evidence-based strategies such as newborn screening and the use of disease-modifying agents, Prof Nawangwe highlighted the persistent low adoption of these measures in Africa, where a substantial SCD population resides.

To tackle the high disease burden in Uganda and other African nations, Makerere University College of Health Sciences is spearheading initiatives to combat SCD. These efforts encompass training healthcare professionals and experts in SCD care, along with ongoing research studies whose results are eagerly awaited.

Ministry of Health statistics reveal that over 500,000 Ugandans currently grapple with sickle cell disease, positioning Uganda among the top three most affected countries in Africa, with one in every 10 individuals carrying the sickle cell gene.

Prof Sarah Kiguli, a pediatrician at Mulago Hospital and a lecturer at Makerere University, emphasized the need to test secondary school and university students for sickle cell before entering relationships. She emphasized that pre-marital testing is crucial to prevent unknowingly passing on the disease from parents to children.

Sickle cell disease is inherited, with children born with it if both parents possess the sickle cell trait. The disease is not contagious, and symptoms vary depending on the type of sickle cell disease. Dr. Annet Nakirulu, a pediatric hematologist at Mulago Hospital, outlined complications such as pain, infection, acute chest syndrome, fatigue, jaundice, learning disabilities, and stroke, underlining the importance of understanding triggers for pain.