2025 Theme: “Tell it Loud!”
World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD) is commemorated every year on June 19 to raise global awareness of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), amplify the voices of those affected, and call for action on better care, research, and policies. This year’s theme, “Tell it Loud!”, encourages open dialogue, bold advocacy, and collective support to break the silence and stigma surrounding SCD.
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells. Instead of being round and flexible, red blood cells in SCD are sickle or crescent-shaped, which makes it harder for them to move through small blood vessels. This results in blockages, pain, and potential organ damage. Common symptoms include chronic anemia, fatigue, severe pain episodes (pain crises), swelling in the hands and feet, frequent infections, and delayed growth and puberty.
SCD is inherited when a child receives the sickle cell gene (HbS) from both parents. If the gene is inherited from only one parent, the individual carries the sickle cell trait but usually does not show symptoms. SCD can be detected through newborn screening or genetic testing, which makes early diagnosis possible. Importantly, SCD is not contagious, and with proper care, many people with the disease can live well into adulthood. While stem cell or bone marrow transplants offer a potential cure, they remain limited in availability. Current treatments focus on management and include the use of hydroxyurea to reduce pain crises, regular blood transfusions, hydration and pain management therapy, as well as vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent infections. Emerging therapies such as gene therapy and stem cell transplantation are offering hope for the future.
Combating SCD requires action from all stakeholders. Individuals are encouraged to get tested, know their sickle cell status, and support those affected. Spouses and partners can seek genetic counseling before marriage or having children to better understand inherited conditions. Healthcare organizations play a critical role in ensuring access to early diagnosis, affordable care, and professional training on empathetic SCD management. Governments and NGOs must also act by implementing nationwide newborn screening, funding research, supporting treatment programs, and creating policies that protect people with chronic illnesses while also combating stigma in communities.
In Tanzania, the impact of SCD is especially significant. The country records over 11,000 children born with the disease every year, ranking among the highest incidences globally. In Dar es Salaam alone, SCD accounts for around 7% of under-five deaths. Specialized clinics provide care at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Dodoma, and at the Zanzibar SCD Clinic. Research leadership has been driven by MUHAS under Prof. Julie Makani, which hosts the largest SCD research cohort in the country with over 5,500 patients. The Sickle Cell Foundation of Tanzania continues to provide education, advocacy, and care, while newborn screening pilot programs are underway in Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Health is also working to establish a National Sickle Cell Programme, complete with regional centers and a national registry.
Several organizations are actively engaged in advocacy and support, including TASIWA (Tanzania Sickle Cell Warriors), which focuses on outreach and awareness in Mwanza, the Tanzania Sickle Cell Disease Alliance (TSDA), which leads on education and policy advocacy, and the SCD Patients Community of Tanzania, which provides peer support, treatment access, and psychosocial services.
As we mark World Sickle Cell Day 2025, let us “Tell it Loud” by raising our voices, sharing knowledge, supporting families, and demanding better care for those living with SCD. Whether as individuals, healthcare workers, or policymakers, we all have a role to play. Together, we can change the narrative around Sickle Cell Disease—for Tanzania, for Africa, and for the world.
World Sickle Cell Day – 2025
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