Health experts and educationists in Uganda have raised serious concerns over the faster rate at which sickle cell disease is growing in the country but with great fear that little has been done by the ministry to have a lasting solution to the burden leaving 80% of the newborns dying before they make their fifth birthday.Professor Christopher Nduguwa and Charles Kiyaga reveal that according to the simple nationwide survey carried out by the ministry with support from America in 2014, it was found out that Uganda gives birth to 15,000 to 20,000 kids with the sickle cells disease and this accounts for 47% of the disease burden in the whole country. They still reveal that Northern Uganda has the highest numbers followed by eastern Uganda and then central with the district of Kampala, Gulu, Namutumba, Iganga, Lira, Tororo, Jinja, Mayuge, Luuka, Apac, Buikwe, Masaka, Oyam, Soroti having the greatest numbers of the disease.
However, the experts are now calling for thorough study to have better data and set up health centers or units to handle the disease across the country since in rural areas its not noticed due to lack of better health facilities to diagnose the disease.
Prof. Ndugwa also down plays the myth that sicklers don’t live longer and he says that they do live longer just like other normal human beings but with maximum treatment adherence.
