Sickle Cell Awareness Month
July is Sickle Cell Awareness month. Unfortunately, I just found out. Anyway, it is never to late to spread awareness about Sickle Cell or any other illness if it helps people, so I have added some useful information and links to PDF documents at the foot of this post.
Starting on the 1st of July through to 31st July 2009 there have been a number of events raising awareness about Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia across the United Kingdom. You can make a donation, volunteer or buy a book or literature from the Sickle Cell Society's shop in order to raise funds. You can also become a member.
Sickle Cell is a disorder, which currently has no cure, and affects people of African, Carribbean, East Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian descent. It is common in areas where malaria affects the population. I have been reading about this and apparently the sickle cell and other related disorders helps to prevent the effects of malaria (providing a type of genetic advantage), which is confined to mainly tropical areas of the world.
Due to low haemoglobin in the red blood cells, much needed oxygen required by the body in order to function efficiently is not transported as the red blood cells become sickle shaped (like a half moon). This can lead to tiredness, pain, anaemia, general crises and a host of other complications.
The Sickle Cell Society is a charitable organisation based in Barnet North London which is committed to providing help, support, research and information sharing on all aspects of Sickle Cell. It was set up in 1979 to provide awareness about Sickle cell and a number of related disorders such as Thalassaemia and Haemoglobin C.
Among the number of leaflets available are a guide for parents, guardians and families, pregnancy screening: antenatal and newborn screening programmes for sickle cell and Thalassaemia, nursing a child with sickle cell, advice to employers, a guide for teachers, information, counselling, care and much more...
Visit the Sickle Cell Society website for more details.
Starting on the 1st of July through to 31st July 2009 there have been a number of events raising awareness about Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia across the United Kingdom. You can make a donation, volunteer or buy a book or literature from the Sickle Cell Society's shop in order to raise funds. You can also become a member.
Sickle Cell is a disorder, which currently has no cure, and affects people of African, Carribbean, East Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian descent. It is common in areas where malaria affects the population. I have been reading about this and apparently the sickle cell and other related disorders helps to prevent the effects of malaria (providing a type of genetic advantage), which is confined to mainly tropical areas of the world.
Due to low haemoglobin in the red blood cells, much needed oxygen required by the body in order to function efficiently is not transported as the red blood cells become sickle shaped (like a half moon). This can lead to tiredness, pain, anaemia, general crises and a host of other complications.
The Sickle Cell Society is a charitable organisation based in Barnet North London which is committed to providing help, support, research and information sharing on all aspects of Sickle Cell. It was set up in 1979 to provide awareness about Sickle cell and a number of related disorders such as Thalassaemia and Haemoglobin C.
Among the number of leaflets available are a guide for parents, guardians and families, pregnancy screening: antenatal and newborn screening programmes for sickle cell and Thalassaemia, nursing a child with sickle cell, advice to employers, a guide for teachers, information, counselling, care and much more...
Visit the Sickle Cell Society website for more details.
Related External Links
Sickle Cell Society website
Planet Sickle - Informational website for the kids on SC
Sickle Cell Society's Awareness Month July 2009 - With NHS Facts and Statistics
Antenatal and Newborn Screening Programmes
for Sickle cell and Thalassaemia
Sickle Cell - A General Guide to Sickle Cell Disorders - PDF document produced by Sickle Cell Society
Pregnancy screening and Genetic testing information - PDF document produced by Sickle Cell Society
The School Child with Sickle Cell Disorder - PDF document produced by Sickle Cell Society
Sickle Cell Trait and Sickle Cell Screening Tests - Patient UK
Sickle Cell Disease and SC Anaemia - Patient UK article with non technical language
Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Anaemia - Patient UK article with technical medical terms
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease by Miriam Bloom
