World Sickle Cell Awareness Day

You’ve probably heard the term sickle cell disease before, but did you know that it is the most common hereditary disease worldwide?

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day has been observed on 19 June since 2008. The goal of this international day is to improve public knowledge and awareness of this disease and the struggles of the millions of sufferers worldwide.

The date was chosen to commemorate the day on which a resolution was officially adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, recognising sickle cell as a public health concern.

Sickle cell disease is a genetic red blood cell disorder.

Healthy red blood cells are round while in sickle cell patients they are hard and sticky and have a C shape, like a sickle. Blood cells carry oxygen around the body and sickle cells can get stuck in small blood vessels and block the flow of blood and oxygen. These blockages cause episodes of severe pain, lead to organ damage, serious infections, or even stroke. Sickle cells also die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.

According to the World Health Organization, in a number of African countries sickle cell disease is one of the leading reasons for premature death among children under five. The disease is also prevalent in the Caribbean.

Sources: US National Library of Medicine