According to Centre For Disease Control, Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. 

The genetic condition is inherited when a child receives two genes—one from each parent—that code for abnormal hemoglobin.

People with sickle cell disease start to have signs of the disease during the first year of life, usually around 5 months of age.

The patients experience different complications such as Acute Chest Syndrome, Anemia, Blood Clots, Kidney Problems, Liver Problems, Vision Loss and many others.

Accoring to the Lancet Global Health, Sickle cell disease contributes substantially to mortality in children younger than 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Uganda, 20 000 babies per year are thought to be born with sickle cell disease, but accurate data are not available.

According to Nambagire Catherine, who runs Our Lady Sickle Cells-Edu care Warriors Initiative in Luwero, the disease causes a breakdown of some families.

She says some of the babies born with the disease also face serious problems as some parents cannot afford the right nutrition and medicine.

Sarafina Bukirwa, Sickle Cell patient and the founder of Sarafina Sickle Cell Society expresses fear that if the government does not act early especially in sensitizing the public, the country is facing a disaster.

Sarafina commends the Buganda Kingdom and the Red Cross for their support in collecting blood from the public since the patients need to receive blood every month.

Spring Pharmacy has now also decided to donate medicines worth over 140 million uganda shillings to sickle cell patients in Mukono and Luwero.