Supporting a programme to fight sickle cell disease

— Madagascar —

Soutien d’un programme de lutte contre la drépanocytose

BACKGROUND

In Madagascar, 10% of the population carries the sickle cell trait, and 1% to 1.2% has the homozygous form of the disease, especially in the eastern and south-eastern regions. Though those afflicted are increasingly tested and monitored, disease-modifying drugs and long-term treatments remain insufficient, a scenario resulting in severe hepatobiliary, osteoarticular and other complications.

Fondation Pierre Fabre answered the call when approached in 2011 by the LCDMF association for support in its fight against the disease. The reasons were the following :  the Foundation had been battling sickle cell disease in Africa since 2005 and  and it was already involved on the “Big Island”, helping train drug professionals. This additional collaboration therefore seemed a natural next step.

The Foundation pledged two years of financial support starting in 2012, funding a programme centred on patient screening and care, medical staff training, opening a specialised centre in the Manakara region, and public education on sickle cell disease. Furthermore, as the LCDMF body had already forged a regional network of primary physicians monitoring diagnosed patients, the Foundation subsidised the development of DrepanoMRS. This innovative application made it possible to computerise medical records, share patient diagnoses and follow-up, and add data to epidemiological studies.

Though its partnership with the LCDMF association ended in late 2013, Fondation Pierre Fabre continues to support the fight against sickle cell disease in Madagascar through a multi-country programme that has increased resources. The LCDMF itself is planning to step up efforts and, in the longer term, develop a technical platform for performing transplants, a radical way to treat this disease.

KEY FACTS
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Priority
Combating Sickle cell disease

Programme
2012-2013

Type of involvement
Distributor

Actions

  • Equipment funding
  • Scientific and medical equipment supply
  • Training funding
  • Funding and strategic advice for public awareness campaigns
  • Strategic advice on developing a primary physicians network

Over the course of our cooperation with Fondation Pierre Fabre, we truly valued the support it provided in detecting the disease and its complications, patient treatment, and the training provided for medical personnel and specialists. Without that help, we simply would not have been able to have an impact on sickle cell disease.”

Prof. Olivat Rakoto Alson
Head of the Haematology Department of the HJRA University Hospital Centre, Antananarivo, sickle cell disease specialist for the Ministry of Public Health, and President of the LCDMF’s Scientific Committee

ACHIEVEMENTS

More than 3 000
tests performed in 2013, resulting in diagnosis of nearly 1,000 cases of sickle cell disease

6 231
sickle cell patients monitored through the programme: 1,968 children aged 0-5 years, 3,044 children aged 5-15 years, 1,219 adults

1,7%
death rate among treated 0-to-5 year-olds (compared to a 50% death rate without early treatment and quality care)

12
primary physicians trained in total, in 10 regions

336
socio-educational workshops and discussion groups held in 2013, and over 3,400 genetic counselling sessions held with at-risk couples

More than 300
television public service announcements broadcast in 2013, in 18 out of 22 regions, to raise public awareness about importance of screening

PARTNERS

To go further

Support for the Sickle Cell Research and Treatment Centre (CRTD)

The Fondation Pierre Fabre has been supporting the Bangui Sickle Cell Research and Treatment Centre (CRTD) since 2019. The CRTD is the country’s only referral institution and receives financial support for training and purchasing medicines and equipment.

19/10/2021

See also

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