Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A sickle cell clinic at Luwero hospital is struggling to offer medical treatment to patients following the death of its funder. The clinic was set up by Mable Nakato, the Director of Holly Foundation in 2011 to cater for patients from Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola. Nakato, …
Read More »Roofings Group launches country-wide sickle cell awareness campaign
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Roofings Group, the largest manufacturer of steel products in Uganda, on Friday 5th August 2022, together with the Director of Public Health, Dr Daniel Kyabayinze on behalf of the Minister of Health launched a country-wide sickle cell awareness. The campaign dubbed ‘Shine the Light …
Read More »Health ministry drafting policy for mandatory sickle cell screening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health is drafting a policy that will require couples to compulsorily screen for sickle cell before getting married. Charles Kiyaga, the Director of the sickle cell program at the ministry revealed this on Thursday at a convention attended by policymakers, scientists, and …
Read More »Bukedea registers increase in sickle cell cases
Bukedea, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is an increase in the number of sickle cell cases in Bukedea district, the authorities have revealed. This is part of the findings in the Bukedea district surveillance report for sickle cell from samples collected from Bukedea lifeline secondary school, Bukedea secondary, and Bukedea comprehensive …
Read More »Uganda to start trials on gene therapy for sickle cell treatment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A team of scientists is to embark on a research trial about the new sickle cell treatment and some other complicated diseases. Dr. Martin Ongol, the Acting Executive Secretary Uganda National Council for Science and Technology-UNCST, says that the gene therapy treatment technology was discovered …
Read More »Prof. Nduggwa, icon for sickle cell treatment and research dies aged 80
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Prof Christopher Nduggwa, Uganda’s senior paediatrician and researcher has died. Though his cause of death is still unrevealed as family sources are still unable to speak to the media, Nduggwa is eulogized as having endured staying in the country to work amidst difficulty, declining lucrative opportunities …
Read More »Children with sickle cell disease increasingly suffering a stroke
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | While global research suggests that children with sickle cell disease in Africa are not at risk of getting a stroke, new research by a Mulago hospital based pediatrician shows otherwise. Dr. Deogratias Munube who has been working at the Mulago Sickle Cell Clinic for more …
Read More »Newborn screening program for sickle cell launched at Lira hospital
Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has launched the Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa-CONSA, a network that seeks to demonstrate the benefits of newborn screening and early interventions for children with sickle cell disease, for the Lango sub-region. CONSA will combine newborn screening and early intervention using …
Read More »Caretakers of sicklers decry high price of hydroxyurea
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Caretakers of sickle cell anemia patients in Gulu district have decried what they call the prohibitive price of hydroxyurea, a drug believed to greatly reduce painful episodes in people with sickle cell. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to form …
Read More »Teachers attitude chasing sicklers from school
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Many children battling sickle cell disease fail to find peace in schools due to stigmatization from teachers who regard them worthless before other children. Sicklers claim that teachers describe them as feeble children who cannot succeed in life like normal students, on top of …
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