Caregivers of people living with sickle disease have been advised to understand the management of the disease to give quality of life to those living with the disease. The Keynote speaker, in an event to mark this year’s Sickle Cell Day at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, Dr. Folake Fasola, gave the advice during a presentation titled ‘Pain Management In Sickle Cell Disease.’
Dr Fasola, while explaining that sickle cell is a condition resulting from inheritance of two abnormal genes controlling the formation of the B globin chains of hemoglobin, stressed that pain in sickle cell patients is better handled at the initial stage than acute and chronic stage.
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Two people living with sickle cell disease who highlighted their plights appealed to medical practitioners and caregivers to always support them psychologically. Also a mother of three sickle cell children who narrated her experience advised other parents not to lose hope but continue to support their children in their health management.
The Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, and a pediatrician, also a specialist in hematology and sickle cell disease, Dr Chioma Okechukwu, assured the hospital’s commitment to supporting patients with sickle cell disease.
