Medics call for compulsory testing of sickle cell disease

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Medical practitioners have urged the Government to impose compulsory testing of sickle cell disease (SCD) among people.

They made the call during a children’s medical camp when launching Panda children’s clinic in Jinja on December 9, 2023.

The children’s clinic is said to offer a wide range of medical services with an emphasis on the sickle cell disease among children.

The director of Panda Children’s Clinic, Dr Kosmas Malinga, said all doctors, medics in the health ministry and stakeholders should increase efforts in fighting SCD by making testing compulsory.

“The disease is rampant in the east, the north and the west and it will soon come to the central region if we don’t take action. The decisions we make right now will help us shape future generations,” Malinga said.

He emphasised the need for churches to only wed couples that present a complete sickle cell test from the hospital in order to prevent having children that are sicklers because of genetic issues.

“One of the reasons SCD registers over 5,000 cases every year is because there is less sensitisation in communities. So, one of the reasons we do these medical camps is to create awareness,” Malinga added.

Key to informed decisions

According to Dr Sabrina Kitaka, a pediatrician at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, compulsory tests can help couples make informed decisions about having children. To her, this can help curb the overwhelming numbers of the sickle cell trait present in all 112 districts according to a recent national study.

“The Government is scaling up on testing at birth so that children are treated more effectively but compulsory tests can reduce the prevalence. Sickle cell disease has chances of 1 out of every 4 pregnancies,” Kitaka explained.

The children’s clinic was established to make a difference in the health sector of Busoga region, which according to head doctor Fahad Muyumba, has been facing challenges such as inadequate facilities, human resource, and supplies.

“The clinic has a dedicated team of professionals, who are trained and experienced in handling, diagnosing, treating and preventing SCD and other pediatric issues,” Muyumba said.

To mark the launch of Panda Children’s Clinic, a children’s medical camp was organised, with emphasis on SCD where over 600 children and their parents attended the camp and received free sickle cell trait tests, as well as other tests for various conditions.

The medical camp was supported by the Dr Snyders Family in the USA, Modern Group Ltd, DAS Agro, GM Sugar Ltd, City Care Medical Centre, Mankind, and local pharmacies.

The launch of Panda Children’s Clinic was graced by several dignitaries including city mayor (northern division) Ashraf Nasser and the chief executive officer of Modern Group, Jagdish Srivastava who urged the community to scale up on testing and increase sensitisation about SCD and other diseases.

In November 2023, Ruth Nankanja Mukiibi, the executive director of the Sickle Cell Association Uganda, said there is low awareness for SCD yet it has lived among people for many years.

She, therefore, called for the same awareness given to new pandemics like HIV and COVID-19 to be applied for SCD in order to combat it.

Background

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects the shape (the appear like sickles) and function of red blood cells, causing them to block blood vessels and damage organs. SCD is prevalent in Busoga region, where it is estimated that about 5,000 children are born with the disease annually.

Uganda is a high sickle cell burdened country with a national sickle cell trait prevalence of 13.3% and sickle cell disease at 0.73%. The regions with the highest prevalence of the disease are eastern, northern and central.

It is estimated that 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Uganda each year, and approximately 15,000 of these babies die before the age of five.