Africa-Press – Angola. The secretary of the Association for Solidarity and Support for the Sickle Cell Patient (ASDAF) in Huambo, Irene Lialunga, defended today, Monday, the need for hospitals to improve care for patients with this genetic and hereditary disease.
The official, who was speaking at the commemoration of the World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day, which is celebrated today, informed that the province of Huambo currently has 500 children, between zero and 15 years old, with this pathology.
These children, according to Irene Lialunga, face many difficulties, from emergency room care to the definitive diagnosis.
He pointed out the lack of means of diagnosis, of a dedicated service space and of a hematologist (a specialist who studies, diagnoses and treats alterations and diseases of the blood and organs such as sickle cell anemia) as one of the main factors that condition the quality of care medical/medicine in the local health units.
He regretted the fact that sickle cell patients are followed up only by pediatricians and internal physicians, in the general emergency departments, when it should be done by a hematologist and in a specific area.
In turn, the head of the Public Health department in Huambo province, Valentim Catolo, informed that the government has been working to gradually improve medical care/medicines for sickle cell patients, with emphasis on training specialists, increasing infrastructure, services and human resources.
He said that the institution, in addition to having control over all patients being treated in the health units, has promoted awareness campaigns in the communities about the importance of young couples undergoing medical examinations before becoming pregnant, as it is the main way of preventing sickle cell.
Gelcia Garcia, one of the patients with sickle cell disease, praised the engagement of health specialists who, on a daily basis, ensured the well-being of patients.
Bibiona Chitumba, mother of a three-year-old patient, asked for greater commitment from the competent authorities in improving health services, with emphasis on this area, with a view to shortening the distance traveled by many in the search for medical care.
June 19 was officially designated as World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day by the United Nations, with the aim of increasing public knowledge and understanding of the disease and the challenges experienced by patients, their families and caregivers.
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