By Veronica Mrema
Village by village, residents will be provided with accurate information and preliminary genetic screening for Sickle Cell Disease in order to identify patients early and enable them to begin appropriate treatment within Chalinze District Council.
The move comes amid persistent misconceptions in the community about the disease, with some people believing that those suffering from it have been bewitched and are therefore taken to traditional healers instead of hospitals.
Even when they are eventually taken to hospital, patients often arrive in critical condition, putting them at greater risk of losing their lives, unlike those who are brought to hospital early and receive proper treatment.
Pwani Region has a total of 5,423 people living with Sickle Cell Disease, of whom 1,300 live in Bagamoyo District Council, followed by Chalinze District Council with 399 patients.
The figures are according to the Office of the Regional Medical Officer for Pwani and were presented during the climax of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month celebrations in Pwani Region.
The event was organised by the Sickle Cell Patients Community of Tanzania [SCDPCT], in collaboration with the Office of the Regional Medical Officer for Pwani and various stakeholders, and was held at Kiwangwa Health Centre.
“Many people think it is a disease caused by witchcraft, and they delay going to hospital to seek treatment. But it is not caused by witchcraft; it is a genetic inherited condition.”
The Coordinator of Non-Communicable Diseases in Pwani Region, Dr Eligreater Mzava, said this on behalf of the Regional Medical Officer Dr. Ukio Kusirye, during the climax of the celebrations.
She stressed: “We urge parents to bring their children [to hospital]. Another thing is that before marriage, people should get tested. When you get tested, you prepare yourself psychologically.
“We heard from the caregiver here [of a child with Sickle Cell Disease] that the mother [of the child] was not prepared, and the father also ran away. The mother suffered a ‘stroke’.
“The grandmother was forced to take responsibility for raising the child. But if they had prepared themselves psychologically, they would have accepted the situation and the child would have been better cared for.”
Dr Mzava added: “Those with the condition should not be afraid; they should go to hospital. There are medicines that help reduce pain, and the region now has a specialist doctor for Sickle Cell Disease.
“...and where there is a need, we will provide outreach services, at least once a month, by visiting different hospitals so that we can see these children.”
Meanwhile, representing the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, and Chalinze Member of Parliament Ridhiwani Kikwete,
Chalinze District Council Chairman Leon Mgweno directed the District Medical Officer to establish a proper arrangement that would enable health professionals to identify patients in villages.
“Those identified in Chalinze are 399. Director and DMO, I instruct you to establish a proper arrangement for this identification or testing.
“Our council can afford to say that every two weeks we set aside three days, three days for each ward, and bring this service closer to the people.
“Let them go and get screened and receive their results. We in Chalinze can do this. Establish the arrangement and liaise with the team from the Ministry and the region,” he directed.
Mgweno stressed: “If it requires facilitation, as the Chairman... we can afford it. I will do that to ensure the service reaches the people [in the villages], so that we can plan properly and understand the magnitude of the problem.
“It could be that there are people out there... because Sickle Cell Disease causes anaemia, and in the villages we believe in superstitions that perhaps ‘lambalamba’ [a traditional healer] will treat it.
“...or we don't know who, there is something eating the child's blood. There is something, I don't know, causing this and other things.
“When in fact, it is simply a matter of getting tested and knowing, and then life continues as normal. Look at my sister there; if you see how she is shining, she is perfectly well.
“But when someone hears ‘Sickle Cell Disease’, they think it is something of a different kind, yet these are conditions that you can have even if you do not have Sickle Cell Disease.
"You may have other diseases, so these are completely normal things,” he said.
He said the Government has continued to invest in the construction of modern health centres, including Kiwangwa Health Centre, as well as providing the council with modern diagnostic equipment.
In that regard, he said, the council will continue strengthening services by reaching more people,
.., including through preliminary screening services, in order to identify patients early, provide them with appropriate treatment and enable them to live better lives.
Earlier, Kiwangwa Ward Councillor Malota Kwaga urged the management of Kiwangwa Health Centre to ensure that it properly collects and maintains data on Sickle Cell Disease patients.
“I commend the message you have used for these celebrations, which says ‘KUWA MJANJA IJUE SIKO SELI’, and we also thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for building this health centre for us.
“People come here and receive quality services. We thank you for bringing these celebrations here, enabling residents to receive accurate information about Sickle Cell Disease and also undergo health screening,” he said.
SCDPCT Executive Director Arafa Said said the main objective was to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease and enable people to know their genetic status.
“Residents were also provided with nutrition education, screened for diabetes and high blood pressure, and had their height and weight measured. Some also volunteered to donate blood.
“We also intend to acquire one Gazelle machine, which we will bring here to Kiwangwa Health Centre so that we can continue working closely with the Government to bring services closer to the people.
“Therefore, we continue to call on various development partners and the Minister to support us in this initiative,” he said.
The Chalinze District Medical Officer, Dr Theopister Joseph, thanked SCDPCT for organising the event, saying it had been beneficial to the community.
She assured the guest of honour that, together with officials from her office, they would prepare the plan he had requested to reach communities and conduct Sickle Cell screening and awareness activities.
The Sickle Cell Disease Coordinator from the Ministry of Health, Dr Asteria Mpoto, said Tanzania ranks third in Africa and fourth globally in terms of the number of people living with Sickle Cell Disease.
“We have 14,000 children born with Sickle Cell Disease every year. The Ministry continues to strengthen services, and all regional referral hospitals and councils now have Sickle Cell Disease clinics.
“We continue to reach different groups in the community to educate them. Sickle Cell Disease remains a major problem,
".., and we will not tire of continuing to provide education in collaboration with various stakeholders.
“We are working to ensure services reach health centres and dispensaries. The national celebrations are expected to be held in Geita,” she said.
Chapisha Maoni