

20 June 2024, 10:51 am
By Denish Ongora
Alebtong district faces critical shortages of sickle cell medication, impacting its 200 affected residents. Research reveals alarming statistics on sickle cell prevalence and mortality, prompting urgent calls for enhanced drug supply and public awareness efforts.
On June 19, 2024, Uganda joined the global observance of 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, stated that they received only 500 capsules of sickle cell medication two months ago, which is inadequate for the 200 people living with sickle cell in the district.
He urged the public to support the fight against sickle cell by embracing pre-marriage testing for the sickle cell trait to reduce the likelihood of having children with sickle cell disease.
Last November, during the release of a report on sickle cell disease research conducted by Makerere University in Alebtong district, Okwir and Alebtong district chairman David Kennedy Odongo urged the government to increase the supply of sickle cell drugs and enhance public awareness about the disease.
Recent research conducted by Makerere University’s Department of Population Studies and and the Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation (USCRF) in Adwir Subcounty, Abia Subcounty, and Alebtong Town Council in Alebtong district revealed that a significant number of individuals living with sickle cell disease are under 18 years old, with many of them succumbing at a young age.
Alebtong district has the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease in Uganda, standing at 23%, compared to the national prevalence of 17% as reported in a 2017 Lancet Global Health study.
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 notably prevalent in the regions of Lango, Teso, and Busoga in Uganda.
Dr. Adong noted that out of 20,000 children born with sickle cell in Uganda, 80% die before reaching the age of five, emphasising the importance of early screening and timely enrollment in treatment.