AS Guyana observes World Sickle Cell Day today, medical professionals are urging that there be staunch support for those affected by the disease.

Director of the National Blood Transfusion Services, Dr Pedro Lewis and Dr Sherelyn Stanton, a consultant in the Paediatric Medicine Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), recently provided an update on Guyana’s efforts to the Guyana Today team, during which they also sought to bring awareness to the disease.

Sickle Cell is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells become rigid and sickle-shaped, hindering their ability to take oxygen effectively, and causing blockages in blood vessels. It can lead to a number of health complications including pain, fatigue and organ damage.

Dr. Stanton explained that in Guyana, the statistics for Sickle Cell are the same as other parts of the Caribbean region.

“We have roughly about point three per every hundred thousand infected with a major haemoglobinopathy, meaning a blood disorder, and Sickle Cell is a major part of that,” she said.

Dr. Stanton remarked that there is a burden of new patients daily in that clinic, as well as in the chronic diseases clinic.

Speaking on her experience, Dr. Stanton replied, “It’s quite challenging because, no one wants to see a sick child. We all want kids to be healthy. However, this is an inherited disorder. It’s not something they choose to have, and when it does present [itself], it can present [itself] with quite significant pains.”

The doctor noted that many times when they see children less than two-years-old that have or will have severe diseases, they may present an insignificant amount of pain which is called ‘dactylitis’. She noted that with this condition, the hands or feet may swell, and they may need blood transfusion done.

In an effort to raise awareness about Sickle Cell, including the way we care and treat persons diagnosed with the disease, Dr. Lewis said the Continued Medical Education (CME) for medical professionals will be hosted soon to educate medical personnel about the disease.

Alongside this, he noted that there will be other activities that are still being planned. Dr. Lewis said that people with Sickle Cell need a supportive community.

He urged persons to visit the Guyana Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Association’s Facebook page to become part of the Sickle Cell support community, and to be informed about Sickle Cell-related activities.

Moreover, once engaged, persons can be added to the Association’s WhatsApp group.

This year’s theme for World Sickle Cell Day is, “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy.”