{"id":324416,"date":"2024-06-20T16:59:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T16:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gbcghanaonline.com\/?p=324416"},"modified":"2024-06-20T17:09:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T17:09:32","slug":"world-sickle-cell-day-2024-raising-awareness-and-tackling-healthcare-challenges-in-ghana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbcghanaonline.com\/news\/world-sickle-cell-day-2024-raising-awareness-and-tackling-healthcare-challenges-in-ghana\/2024\/","title":{"rendered":"World Sickle Cell Day 2024: Raising awareness and tackling healthcare challenges in Ghana"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By: Nana Kwame Bediako <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday 19th June, 2024, World Sickle Cell Day was commemorated globally with a special focus on advancing care, education, and equity in healthcare, under the banner “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Care Globally.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The theme underscored the critical need for accessible and equitable healthcare across Ghana, emphasizing the need to heighten awareness of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), assess its current impact, and tackle the ongoing challenges posed by this genetic disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event served as a poignant reminder to continue efforts in breaking a cycle that significantly affects individuals and communities, not just in Ghana but worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sickle Cell Disease remains a major health challenge, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 75% of the global burden of the disease is concentrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alarmingly, around 300,000 newborns are diagnosed with SCD each year, and without the necessary medical intervention, 50% to 90% of these infants die before reaching the age of five. This high mortality rate is largely attributed to the lack of affordable, comprehensive healthcare services in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n