World Sickle Cell Awareness Day
This month is jam-packed with many days dedicated to creating awareness. Today, being the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, let’s dive in a bit into what sickle cell disease entails. Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. For someone who has sickle cell disease, their red blood cells are hard and sticky which looks like a C-shaped farm tool called a sickle; hence the name sickle-cell. These cells die early and causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Due to its nature, travelling through small blood vessels is difficult and this results to limited oxygen in the body, pain and other acute health complications.
There are various types of sickle cell disease. It’s hereditary therefore, children from parents who has both of the sickle cell gene will most likely inherit the severe type; sickle cell anemia. When either parents has the gene, this too poses some complication. Hence, the need for family planning and various tests before the union between two people cannot be over emphasized. In the spirit of this day, take necessary precautions to protect your unborn child/generation. For those living with this disease, contrary to what our society has made us to believe; this is not a death sentence. It can be cured for certain patients, treated and managed to enable a patient live a long and high quality life. Bone marrow transplants, blood transfusions, medications as prescribed by a doctor are ways to ensure long and high quality of life. Regular check-ups, following prescribed treatments, preventing infections by practicing healthy habits like washing of hands, drinking lots of water, eating healthy food would go a long way also.
As we celebrate this day, our hearts goes out to those living with this condition. We send loads of love your way and we are encouraging you to keep fighting. This world needs your light. For those in the position to prevent this, please take necessary action to deprive this disease of its power to hurt our future generation. Happy World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, we are always rooting for you!