CALL FOR SICKLE CELL AWARENESS AND EDUCATION

Sickle Cell Disease, like any other disease, is as devastatingly painful and heart-wrenching as it comes, and why this disease has not had the attention and awareness that it deserves is a major reason for concern.

The global impact of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) calls for a worldwide effort to increase communication, education and treatment for sickle cell patients. Education for SCD is necessary and very vital in this society so as to prevent further increase of people living with SCD.  Two people with Sickle Cell trait, which causes few if any problems, risk producing an offspring with SCD.

There is no cure for this disease, but with every discovery and intervention, sufficient counseling and follow-up care, along with current advances in finding a cure, this disease can be managed and controlled, and patients can lead comparatively normal lives.

A lot of people are confused about what SCD is and how one can get it. SCD refers to a group of inherited disorders that affect the red blood cells.  It is caused by an inherited form of hemoglobin, a protein that facilitates red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs through blood stream, to all parts of the body. Red blood cells with normal hemoglobin, invisible under a microscope, are smooth and round, and glide easily through blood vessels. In the bodies of people with SCD, after the carrier cells release oxygen, they take on a curved or ‘sickle’ shape and become stiff, blocking blood flow and causing damage to organs.
Complications and symptoms include episodes of intense pain, swelling, fatigue, anemia, jaundice, and even stroke.

Seed of Life Philanthropic Organization (SOLPO) is a non-governmental organization that creates, stimulates and promotes public awareness of Sickle Cell Disease in Canada. This organization publicizes information about the disease. SOLPO advocates in the care and support of sickle cell patients and their families. It counsels these patients while also assisting in promoting medical and social awareness of Sickle Cell. It has also established a scholarship fund to help youths who are living with Sickle Cell Anemia.
SOLPO’s main goal is to advance education in sickle Cell, promote research, as well as relieve painful episodes for SC patients.

Q/A ABOUT SICKLE CELL
Know your genotype!
Ask your family doctor for the painless blood test called Haemoglobin Electrophoresis testing.

Talk to your partner
Discuss your genotype with your partner. If you are planning to have your children it is important to get genetic counseling if you both have sickle-cell trait or anemia.

Who is affected by Sickle Cell Disease?
It affects people whose ancestors are from the Middle East, Africa, Mediterranean, Latin America, South America, India, Sri-Lanka, and the Caribbean. It is common in regions of the world where mosquito borne malaria is present.

Can I catch Sickle Cell Disease?
No. Unlike flu or HIV, you do not catch Sickle Cell disease. All Sickle cell conditions are inherited from parents, just like blood types, hair and eye color.
What is the difference between having the trait and the disease?
People with Sickle Cell trait are generally health; but carry the gene that causes the disease. They can pass this gene on to their children. People with Sickle Cell disease can experience serious health problems such as damage to internal organs such as the liver, hearth, kidneys, and spleen. It can cause stroke, vision problems, acute chest syndrome, priapism and premature death.
Good News!
Due to medical advances and patient education, many individuals with Sickle Cell Disease are now living into their sixties and beyond. There is also helpful advice on how to reduce the frequency of painful episodes known as crisis. Patients are encouraged to drink more water, eat more vegetables and avoid overexertion and unnecessary stressors.

Article by:
Communication Dept.
Seed of Life Philanthropic Organization.
www.seedoflifepo.org
Ph: 416-745-4267