The Sarafinah Sickle Cell Society (SASCELLS) has kicked off a new project aimed at eliminating sickle cell disease among newborn babies in the Rwenzori region.
The project, dubbed “Newborn Sickle Cell Screening and Treatment,” is headed by SASCELLS and supported by the US-based organization Sickle Forward.
Joel Mugwanya, the Field Officer at SASCELLS, confirmed the receipt of screening kits and a Gazelle machine to intensify screening of newborns between 0 and 5 years of age.
He added that they had already trained volunteers and health workers in the districts of Ntoroko and Bundibugyo on how to use the Sickle Cell Scan kits and Gazelle machine. Further training is ongoing in Hoima.
“The Sickle Cell Screening Kits will be used to detect the trait, while the Gazelle machine will confirm the disease,” Mugwanya explained.
Gazelle machines are portable, point-of-care diagnostic devices designed to detect sickle cell disease and trait.
Mugwanya noted that their portability and compatibility make them easy to transport and use in remote or resource-limited areas, providing immediate results.
The machines use microchip electrophoresis technology to separate and identify hemoglobin variants in blood samples, analyzing them using a cellulose acetate membrane and providing quantitative and qualitative results.
Isaac Kabunga, an Advocate and IT Administrator at SASCELLS, said the project’s objective is to identify children born with sickle cell disease and recruit them into sickle cell clinics for treatment and care.
“The project will help improve their health and quality of life, reduce the number of children born with sickle cell disease, and provide support to those already affected,” Kabunga noted.
The project is expected to make a significant impact in the Rwenzori region, and stakeholders are optimistic about its potential to improve the lives of children and families affected by sickle cell disease.
