World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is celebrated on 19th June to increase awareness about the disease. Globally, WHO reports say that more than 3 lakh babies suffer from sickle cell disease, with the majority in India and Africa. Creating awareness among families is the most important step that helps to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for people suffering from sickle cell anemia.
Why Stigma Is A Huge Challenge?
Dr. Vikas Dua, Paediatric Haematology, Fortis Gurugram Hospital, says there are some myths about genetic disorders, and the most overlooked challenge faced by patients with genetic disorders is thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
Families have misconceptions and emotional distress due to limited understanding of these problems within society. Another misconception is that parents are responsible for the cause of sickle cell anemia due to actions or lifestyle choices during pregnancy. Dr. Dua says that these problems take place because of inherited genetic changes. Gene mutations are the real reason why sickle cell anemia occurs among individuals and is passed from one generation to another.
Dr. Dua says awareness encourages families to take medical care, genetic counselling, and screening. This will help parents make proper decisions for future pregnancies and know the inheritance patterns.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate that proper management and early diagnosis reduce any concerns and improve quality of life with sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell Anemia awareness also helps proper screening before pregnancy or marriage, which aids families to better know about the genetic risks.
Conclusion
Dr. Dua says that awareness is the most powerful tool. When communities know the genetic disorders are medical conditions, then a society is built where patients are treated better, diagnosed earlier, and supported without any judgement. This decreases stigma; it is not a healthcare objective; it becomes a social responsibility.
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