Sickle Cell is Not a Death Sentence. Early Diagnosis save lives. Target - 150,000+ Newborn. Join SickleCare project to save Newborn.

Tanzania bears one of the highest burdens of SCD in Africa where it is rated 4th by WHO statistics in Africa and 5th globally. National estimates indicate that approximately 13% of the Tanzanian population carries the HbAS trait and 2.3% carries the HbSS, with regional prevalence as high as 25–40% in hyperendemic zones such as Lake Victoria basin communities. Between 8,000 and 11,000 SCD-affected neonates are born in Tanzania every year. Despite this significant disease burden, newborn screening coverage remains inadequate, diagnosis is often delayed to school age or adulthood, and treatment access is highly variable across urban and rural settings. Melian Foundation (MF) is implementing one of the resource effective, sustainable and adaptable SCD newborn and symptomatic under 5 screening and linkage to care projects ‘’SickleCare Project’’ in Tabora, Shinyanga and Mara. SickleCare project has screened over 35,000 newborn in the period of 12 months where 15.79% were diagnosed with SCD trait HbAS while 2.38% were diagnosed with SCD HbSS. This suggests that the parents are either SCD trait - HbAS or SCD diagnosed - HbSS. Our goal is to make sure every newborn child and those coming to primary healthcare with symptoms are screened and if identified with Sickle Cell Disease are linked to care and improve their living. The impact of this initiative is diverse such that it does not only help to reduce mortality but also prepare families and communities on how to managed SCD, information provided helps decisionmakers in their planning, improve families social economic status and helps children continue with their normal lives despite having SCD.