SICKLE CELL SCREENING AND OUTREACH EVENT, FIRST IN HAITI
(Defend Haiti) - By Sylvio Simon
PORT-AU-PRINCE - "Screening for Healthy Growth" is the theme of the celebration of World Day of Sickle Cell Anemia Sunday, June 19.
The day offers an opportunity for the Sickle Cell Association of Haiti (AAFH) to raise awareness to the Haitian public health problem," said President of the Haitian Medical Association (AMH) , Dr. Claude Suréna, in a press briefing Friday, June 17, at the local Haitian Medical Association, Avenue Labor. He said that for the first time outreach for this disease will be held in Haiti.
A conference, discussion, video projection associated with the disease, patient testimonials from those who are facing the disease ,will participate in this open day at the local AMH this sunday.
More than "60 000 sickle cell sc and ss are listed in Haiti. The prevalence for heterozygous have ranged between 7 and 28%, and ss 5 and 7% and 10%, "revealed a study by Dr. Jean Fleurival (president of the league anti-sickle cell created in 1989
"Sickle cell anemia was one of the first known genetic diseases in the world. It has a serious physical, psychological and social toll on patients and their families. In its homozygous form, it is one of the most deadly genetic diseases," said Dr Suréna, citing a text of the UN General Assembly.
Present at the 59th Congress of the AMH in April, Mya Ferdinand, founding member of the AAFH has decided now to make a personal commitment on the side of patients and physicians to carry the fight. Mya Ferdinand is affected by this disease because she has a niece who suffers from the hereditary blood disorder, which causes periodic attacks of pain and complications. "In every crisis, she screams in pain, and she faints. Our entire family suffers with her," she said.
This public health problem, according to Mya Ferdinand Mya, draws the attention of everyone.
2 comments:
According to my works the gene frequency for the hemoglobin S is over 6%, at birth and 6% at reproductive age in Haiti. Lower frequencies can be found in some isolated. My estimations are based on data collected from 1000 new born screening and 1000 blood donors sreened for abnormal hemoglobins by using acid pH hemoglobin electrophoresisis. I estimate the incidence of SS at .o425%(same as in some regions of central Africa and the Caribean)
My works dont indicate such high prevalences. Data I collected from new born screening and study made on 1ooo blood donors and other age groups made me estiate the AS at 10% t0 12% and the incidence of SS at 0.425% with a a hemoglobin S gene frequency of 6.5% at birth
Jeanfleurival@yahoo.fr
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