Fight sickle cell stigma- Bonny Ferdinand Okello
held at Lira Hotel on the 2nd-10-2024
By Michael Ojok and Patricia Aceng
(editor@vol.co.ug)
Lira
People living with sickle cell face a lot of stigma and discrimination in Uganda. This stigma is as a result of lack of the general conceptualization of this condition.
The assistant Lira RCC Bonny Ferdinand Okello Alele reminded the public to embrace the victims and continously encourage them to get treatment.
It should be noted that, sickle cell trait and disease is a burden in Uganda contributing substantially to mortality in children.
In Alebtong district, 23% out of 100 tested, turn positive to the disease.
People of Lango have been called to join hands to address the sickle cell challenge facing the region.
Alele who is also chairperson organizing committee for the Uhuru Sickle Cell Run 2024 aimed to raise funds for procurement of a sickle cell screening machine made the call at a press conference held at Lira Hotel.
Okello Alele said Lango is grappling with high cases of sickle cell disease which calls for concerted effort to address the same.
Bonny Ferdinand Okello Alele
Executive Director of Catherine Phil Sickle Cell Initiative, Daniel Roy Odur who is coordinating the sickle cell run activities equally rallied the people of Lango to support this initiative
Dr Juliet Adongo Ochol who is in charge sickle cell disease at Lira regional referral hospital cautioned the public against stigmatizing people suffering from sickle cell
North Kioga region police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema said they will offer maximum security a t the event
Patrick Kibwota who represented Manager, Stanbic Bank Lira branch pledged support towards the people of Lango for development of the region.
Daniel Ayena, manager of KCB Bank pleaded to equally support this initiative.
Sickle cell disease refers to a group of inherited haemoglobin disorders characterised by a predominance of abnormal sickle haemoglobin in erythrocytes.
Sickle cell anaemia, which results from homozygous inheritance of sickle haemoglobin from both parents, is the most common and severe form of sickle cell disease.
