Sickle Cell Network Uganda launched sickle cell clinic at Mityana General Hospital.

Joan Naziwa is a resident of Jingo village in Mityana districts, when her son presented signs of sickle cell disease she was referred to Mulago hospital for proper diagnosis. When he was diagnosed with sickle cell the doctors advised her to open up a patient’s file at the Mulago sickle cell clinic. She was further advised to come back after 3 months for a review. It is now 3 years and Joan has never returned to Mulago for any review. “I cannot manage the transport to Mulago” she said. From her village in Jingo to Mulago it’s a distance of 80 kilometres.

Joan is not alone other parents from Mityana and other districts who can not afford transport resorted to seeking treatment from private clinics and Mityana hospital where they could not get the treatment they need due to lack of medical officers who understands the management of sickle cell disease.

Sickle Cell Network team and medical officers from the hospital after the launch of the sickle cell clinic

When Sickle Cell network Uganda learnt these difficulties in accessing services it partnered with Mityana General Hospital to start a sickle cell clinic. The sickle cell clinic which was launched and opened yesterday (5th September 2016) will offer all the services to sickle cell patients every Monday including new born screening to all babies born from the hospital.

Greater Mubende is one of the areas with many cases of sickle cell disease but patients have to travel to Kampala for treatment.

Barbra Najjuma 40 year old lady living with sickle cell disease

“I know over 40 families in Mityana with sickle cell patients and they have been struggling to get treatment. Am sure with this sickle cell clinic the healthcare of people with sickle cell will improve” Barbra Najjuma who is a 40 years sickle cell patient said. She is also Women Councilor of people with disability of Mityana District.

Parents consulting doctors at the sickle cell clinic

Mityana sickle cell clinic is the second clinic Sickle Cell Network Uganda has launched in a period of less than year. It comes after Atutur hospital sickle cell clinic which now has more than 700 registered patients serving the Teso Sub Region.