Language: English
By 2050 the number of people with SCD is expected to increase by about 30 percent globally.
Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) have recognized SCD as a global health issue. In 2006, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution recognizing SCD as a public health priority and called on countries to tackle the disease. This resolution was also adopted by the United Nations in 2009.
In support of World Sickle Cell Day, the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition is raising awareness of SCD in Africa in an effort to improve health outcomes for people with the disease from infancy to adulthood.
SCD continues to be a major global public health issue. It remains a major killer of infants and children in the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and India, where an estimated 50–90 percent of infants born with SCD will die before their fifth birthday.
The public service announcement directs people to a global resources library compiled by members of the Coalition that identifies screening sites and other treatment centers in African regions, as well as other educational tools and resources. Immediately following the PSA, stay tuned for a short documentary from the American Society of Hematology.
Access Resource DirectoryThe 3rd Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease held in Bhubaneswar, India on February 21-24, 2017 was attended by more than 700 participants, including patients, caregivers, physicians, and researchers from 34 countries. Based on the theme: “Breaking the Barriers,” the Congress defined the priorities and goals for SCD care, research and education in challenging resource-limited settings and culturally diverse environments globally.
90%+ of children with SCD do not survive to adulthood in resource-poor countries
Prevalence of sickle cell trait varies greatly between different regions but reaches levels as high as 40% in some countries.
Expected to be a 30% growth in the number of people with SCD globally.
