Margaret C. Ryan Global Health Program | Sickle Cell Research in Africa

LOCATION: Africa (Tanzania, Liberia and Ghana)
TOPIC: Non-Communicable Diseases & Research

Dr. Venee Tubman, Dr. Alexandra Coria and Dr. Catherine Taylor and researching sickle cell patient outcomes in Tanzania, Liberia and Ghana. Over 240,000 infants are born with sickle cell disease – an inherited red blood cell disorder causing chronic anemia, pain and increased susceptibility to infections – in sub-Saharan Africa annually; sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder causing chronic anemia, pain and increased susceptibility to infections. While survival rates of children to age 5 in high-income countries is 95%, the number in of children who live with sickle cell disease to age 5 in low and middle income countries is 10-50%. Early diagnosis of sickle cell disease through newborn screening, preventative care, parental education and long-term follow-up decreases mortality. These high-impact, low-cost interventions have shown to have a huge impact on sickle cell patient outcomes.