In remembrance of World Sickle Cell Day,Jenner Club of Microbiology conducted an

Awareness Programme on “Blood Disorders and Blood Safety”. Dr.K.Mala Shankar

M.B.B.S., DGO., Consultant Obstetrician &GynaecologistAnjalaiAmmal Clinic, Pudukkottai

gave an awareness regarding this topic.

In her speech she highlighted World Sickle Cell Anemia Day is celebrated on June 19

every year, and sickle cell anemia is defined as a group of inherited red blood cell disorders.The

international awareness day is observed annually with the goal to increase public knowledge and

an understanding of sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by patients and their

families and caregivers.

She spotlighted that the Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that affects the body’s

red blood cells. It occurs when a child receives two sickle cell genes - one from each parent. In

someone living with this disease, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-

shaped farm tool called a “sickle”.

She focused on that when sickled red blood cells travel through small blood vessels, they

get stuck and clog the blood flow. This can cause pain and other serious problems such as

infection, acute chest syndrome and stroke. The pain experienced by people living with sickle

cell disease can vary in intensity and last for a few hours to a few weeks.

She narrated while the disease is most common among African Americans, other racial

and ethnic groups are affected, including Latinos and people of Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian

and Mediterranean backgrounds. Sub-Saharan Africa has the greatest burden of disease, with

more than 300,000 babies born with the disease each year. However, the disease is common

enough in the United States that there are about 100,000 people currently living with sickle cell

disease but uncommon enough that medical professionals rarely see sickle cell disease patients.

She suggested the students to use some self-management strategies to reduce the effects

of sickle cell disease such as drinking plenty of fluids, eating a healthy diet, preventing infections

by being fully vaccinated and sometimes taking daily antibiotics if needed, avoiding extreme

temperatures, avoiding over-activity, using pain relief medicines (for example, paracetamol or

ibuprofen) to manage your pain

In view of this II & III B.Sc. Students, II M.Sc. students of Microbiology Department

actively took part in the discussion. Earlier Dr.P.Jeevan, Head, Department of Microbiology

welcomed the gathering and Ms.S.VijayaSamoondeeswari, Assistant Professor, Department of

Microbiology, proposed vote of thanks.