BHUBANESWAR: The four-day 3rd Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) came to an end here on Friday with a call to translate new findings on the disease and requirements into real action.
Medical Director of Global Sickle Cell Disease Network (GSDN) Prof Isaac Odame said it is a big challenge now to act on the findings. While access is limited, drug supply is not constant, which is why the disease is not yet controlled. Even if the facilities are available, the patients are not getting the benefit.
Odame said the Government of India has invited the global body to guide policy initiatives on tackling SCD and strategies to implement these to improve lives of people suffering from the disease.
Co-chair Prof Kalpna Gupta from University of Minnesota, USA said the conference provided a unique opportunity to direct global strategies for combating SCD, particularly in low income countries. It has created a roadmap to improve the life of patients, she said.
The GSDN is finalising a set of recommendations based on discussions during numerous deliberations and brainstorming sessions. Apart from Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Chhattisgarh, which has sizeable population of SCD patients, has also extended invitation to the global body to organise another meet in their State.
Organising Secretary of the event Prof Rabindra Kumar Jena said local bodies on SCD would carry forward recommendations at their respective level and influence policies for SCD communities.
Over 500 doctors, scientists, researchers, policy makers, Government representatives along with patients attended the meet organised by GSDN and Odisha Haematology.