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

摘要

Summary 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.