On World Sickle Cell Day, Government Hospitals affirmed its continuous efforts to provide comprehensive services and care for patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

It stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships to increase services provided based on latest technologies in the field and to further develop the health sector and services for SCD patients in cooperation with experienced consulting entities.

Bahrain is at the forefront of countries that have made great achievements in the field of sustainable development, giving utmost importance to the health and safety of all, and the provision of comprehensive health services for its entire population, Dr. Ahmed Al-Ansari, Government Hospitals Chief Executive said.

Dr. Al Ansari outlined services offered by Government Hospitals to SCD patients through the Hereditary Blood Disorders Centre in Salmaniya Medical Centre (SMC). Those services are offered by a multidisciplinary team and include diagnosis, treatment, follow up, blood transfusion and psychiatric support.

Medical services offered to patients include internal medicine, chronic pain treatment, nutrition, physiotherapy, orthopedics and dentistry, in addition to social services.

Health Care for SCD patients started 50 years ago, with the onset of the health infrastructure in Bahrain.

In 1984, the government formulated a comprehensive national strategy for SCD.

Bahrain’s efforts yielded positive results over the years. The percentage of newborns with SCD has dropped to 0.6% annually.

The mortality rate reduced by 43%, while a 35% improvement occurred in treatment rates of chronic diseases by changing the mode of treatment from injections to tablets, leading to stabilising the rate of daily pain and improving the quality of lives of patients.

A team is assigned to follow up directly with patients via WhatsApp. An average of 25,000 messages are exchanged annually.

Source: Bahrain News Agency