World Sickle Cell Day is celebrated every day on June 19 to improve the understanding of the most frequent genetic disease. This year 40th observation of this day will be celebrated. Sick cell disease is the most commonly occurring genetic disease and it is found worldwide.
According to the UN, an estimated 5, 00,000 are born every year with this condition and sadly half of them will die before their fifth birthday.
Sick cell disease is an abnormality where the red blood cells are sickle-shaped. It is an inherited disease that severely endangers the life of the patient. When the person suffers from sickle cell anemia, the cell gets stuck in the blood vessels and it impairs their movement through the veins. They get rigid and sticky instead of flowing smoothly. So oxygen and nutrients are not transported well through the body.
History of World Sickle Cell Day
This day was first recognized by the United Nation in 2008. The Sickle Cell Disease International Organization (SCDIO), the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Senegal, the African Union, the UNESCO and WHO backed the observation of the day.
Significance of World Sickle Cell Day
World Sickle Cell Day is celebrated to improve public awareness about the genetic disease. All the agencies working for the sickle cell awareness organizes various events and aims to spread information about the disease, its symptoms, and its treatment.
The day is celebrated to improve treatment outcomes of sickle cell disease through the early diagnosis. The day is a meeting of minds where the NGOs, doctors, governments and support groups come together to find strategies to eliminate the sickle cell disease.
