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COMBATING SICKLE-CELL DISEASE WATCH THE REPORT “Working together to combat sickle-cell disease in Burkina Faso.” CONTEXT PANDEMIC Sickle-cell disease is the fourth-leading pandemic in Africa and the world’s most common genetic disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, on average, 15% of the population carries the sickle- cell disease gene and therefore may potentially transmit it. Each year, an estimated 300,000 children are born with the severe form of the disease, two-thirds of them in sub- Saharan Africa1 (meaning 1%-2% of all births). TREATMENT COSTS In Mali, treating a child with sickle- cell disease at the Research Centre to Combat Sickle-cell Disease (CRLD) costs an average of and challenges 422,500 CFA francs, or 647 euros annually, in a context where the average gross annual income per capita is 460,000 CFA francs (704 euros)5. Without treatment, half of all children born with the disease would not live to the age of 53. A NEGLECTED DISEASE In 2018, less than $20 million were spent on fighting sickle-cell disease (15 million with the disease), while $20 billion was committed to fighting HIV (26 million with the disease)4. • 1 Modell B., Darlison M., Global epidemiology of haemoglobin disorder and derived service indicators, WHO Bulletin. 2008; 86 (6): 480 • 2 PLOS Medicine journal, 2013 • 3 Grosse S.D., Am J Prev Med, 2014 • 4 Le Monde Afrique 19/06/2019 • 5 Le Monde Afrique 19/06/2019 Fondation Pierre Fabre – 22