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Review
. 2017 Jun;177(6):919-929.
doi: 10.1111/bjh.14594. Epub 2017 Mar 14.

Sickle cell disease in Africa: an overview of the integrated approach to health, research, education and advocacy in Tanzania, 2004-2016

Furahini Tluway  1 , Julie Makani  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Sickle cell disease in Africa: an overview of the integrated approach to health, research, education and advocacy in Tanzania, 2004-2016

Furahini Tluway et al. Br J Haematol. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the single most important genetic cause of childhood mortality globally. Tanzania has one of the highest annual births of SCD individuals in the world, estimated to reach 11 000 births a year. Without intervention, 50-90% of children will die in childhood. However, cost-effective interventions have the potential to reduce childhood mortality by up to 70%. The effects of SCD are multi-dimensional, ranging from causing high morbidity and mortality, and reducing the quality of life, to imposing a high socio-economic burden on individuals, families and health systems. In the past 12 years, the SCD programme in Tanzania has developed, with local and global partnerships, a systematic framework for comprehensive research that is integrated into providing healthcare, training and advocacy in SCD. This report outlines the approach and achievements of collective initiatives for management and control of SCD in Tanzania.

Keywords: Tanzania; health; research; sickle cell.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure and competing interest statement

The authors have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
(A) Sickle Cell activities that integrate Healthcare, Research, Training and Advocacy. (B) Research themes in the sickle cell programme at Muhimbili.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Timelines of selected research programmes in Sickle cell disease in Muhimbili.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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