Alebtong District Faces Critical Shortage of Sickle Cell Drugs

Summary:

• Alebtong district is struggling with a severe shortage of sickle cell medication, receiving only 500 capsules in the last two months for 200 patients. Officials urge increased government support and public awareness, highlighting the district’s 23% prevalence rate. Early screening and treatment are crucial, as 80% of Ugandan children born with the disease die before age five.

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ALEBTONG, (Examiner) – Alebtong district is currently grappling with a severe shortage of sickle cell medication, leaving many patients without the necessary treatment. This comes as Uganda marked World Sickle Cell Awareness Day under the theme “Hope through Progress; Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally.”

Denis Okwir Jaramogi, the sickle cell focal point person in Alebtong district, highlighted the dire situation, noting that the district last received 500 capsules of sickle cell drugs two months ago. This supply is grossly insufficient for the 200 people living with the disease in the district.

Jaramogi urged the public to support the fight against sickle cell disease by embracing pre-marriage testing for the sickle cell trait, a measure aimed at reducing the likelihood of children being born with the condition.

Last November, a report by Makerere University on sickle cell disease in Alebtong district called for increased government support in drug supply and enhanced public awareness. District chairman David Kennedy Odongo echoed this plea, emphasizing the need for more resources and education on the disease.

Research by Makerere University’s Department of Population Studies and the Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation in Adwir Sub County, Abia Sub County, and Alebtong town council revealed that the majority of sickle cell patients are under 18, with many dying at a young age. Alebtong has the highest sickle cell prevalence in Uganda at 23%, compared to the national average of 17%, according to a 2017 Lancet Global Health report.

Meanwhile, Dr. Juliet Adong Ocol, a pediatrician at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, reported that 1,200 children are currently receiving sickle cell treatment at the facility. She noted that sickle cell disease is particularly prevalent in the Lango, Teso, and Busoga regions of Uganda. Dr. Adong stressed the importance of early screening and timely treatment, as 80% of the 20,000 children born with sickle cell in Uganda die before reaching five years old.

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