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Mutsawashe Mashandure-Herald Reporter
TOGETHER with the Sickle Cell Anaemia Trust (SCATZ) the Government has set up Zimbabwe’s first sickle cell clinic in Bindura as part of efforts to ensure improved access to treatment and care for patients who have the genetic condition.
Speaking at an event to commemorate World Sickle Cell Anaemia Day recently, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro, who was represented by director nursing services Sister Nyaradzai Chiwara, said it was imperative to improve the well-being of sickle cell patients.
“One of our most important responsibilities as Government is to create a conducive environment that enables all citizens of the nation to get access to affordable healthcare and to live a healthy and productive life.
“The Ministry remains committed to providing progressive organisations such as yourselves with an enabling environment that facilitates access to care and treatment and builds hope among all patients,” he said.
Sickle cell anaemia is one of a group of inherited disorders, which affects the shape of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of the body. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells. Also, when they travel through small blood vessels, they get stuck and clog the blood flow.
This can cause pain and other serious complications such as infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke.
Dr Mangwiro said it was encouraging that SCATZ was moving to establish more clinics in all provinces across the country to help bring healthcare closer to the people.
“We are aware that sickle cell treatment is expensive and beyond the reach of many. We therefore call on all sectors and industry players who share a common vision of creating and sustaining a nation in which all the needs and expectations of citizens are fulfilled to join hands in ensuring that access to treatment and care for sickle cell anaemia is affordable,” Dr Mangwiro said.
Sickle Anaemia Trust Zimbabwe founder Ms Morleen Chima, who has lived with the condition for 26 years, said she had lived with pain and stigma for most of her adult life.
“As I walked this journey, I noticed several awareness and management inadequacies which made me realise that there are others throughout the country facing the same predicament,” she said.
“Through support from partners we are able to offer free sickle cell screening, subsidised medication and advocacy for random diagnostic tests in Zimbabwe.”
SCATZ was launched in 2019 and has been advocating early diagnosis and specialised care to ensure that sickle cell patients live long and normal lives.
One of those living with sickle cell anaemia, 18-year-old Tawananyasha Bisolomu, said he was diagnosed with the sickle cell disease when he was five. At the age of 16, he was bound to a wheelchair and was told by doctors that he needed to have an operation but had to wait until he turned 18.
“For two years I was in bed. I could not do anything as a result. I have never really got proper education since I was at home more often than in school,” he said.
He has since been operated on and received physiotherapy and has now regained use of some of his limbs.
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