Fatshimetrie, October 13, 2024 – A commendable initiative has been set up in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo: training for healthcare workers on the care of pregnant women with sickle cell disease. This event, which took place on Sunday, was organized by the NGO “Awulu wala” in collaboration with the Center for Mixed Medicine and Anemia “SS” (CMMASS) and the National Council for Universal Health Coverage (CNCSU).
Dr. Nathan Kalondji, Coordinator of the “Awulu wala” association, stressed the importance of this training. Indeed, according to the National Program for the Fight against Sickle Cell Disease (PNLCD), 61% of doctors in Kinshasa do not know how to treat sickle cell patients. It is therefore essential to improve the skills of healthcare workers to ensure adequate care for pregnant women with sickle cell disease.
The aim of this training was to strengthen the knowledge and skills of healthcare staff in order to provide appropriate monitoring, prevent complications and promote safer and more successful pregnancies among women with sickle cell disease. Indeed, the situation of sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains worrying, with 5% of pregnant women with sickle cell disease losing their pregnancy due to poor care.
The Coordinator of the Awulu Wala association stressed that sickle cell disease is a major public health problem and called for greater state involvement in the fight against this disease. It is crucial to raise awareness among the population and health professionals in order to reduce the risks associated with sickle cell disease in pregnant women and improve their support throughout pregnancy and after childbirth.
In conclusion, this training highlighted the importance of caring for pregnant women with sickle cell disease and the need for close collaboration between healthcare professionals to improve the quality of care provided to patients with this disease. It is imperative to continue to raise awareness and train healthcare staff to provide optimal support to pregnant women with sickle cell disease and thus reduce the complications associated with this pathology.