Latest news with #WorldSickleCellDay
Wales Online
6 hours ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Jourdan Dunn donates blood and calls for more black heritage donors
Jourdan Dunn donates blood and calls for more black heritage donors Dunn, known for appearing on the catwalks of London, Paris and New York, attended the capital's newest blood donation centre in Brixton, south London, to mark World Sickle Cell Day. Jourdan Dunn (Image: Charlotte Tilbury ) Model Jourdan Dunn has highlighted the need for more black heritage donors to come forward to give blood – as she provided a blood donation herself. Dunn, known for appearing on the catwalks of London, Paris and New York, attended the capital's newest blood donation centre in Brixton, south London, to mark World Sickle Cell Day. Dunn's teenage son Riley is one of the country's 13,000 sickle cell patients who rely on blood transfusions from black heritage donors so they can live with the condition. Sickle cell is the country's fastest-growing inherited blood disorder that disproportionately affects black African and black Caribbean communities, according to the NHS. Around 250 babies are born with the condition in the UK each year. The service currently needs to recruit 16,000 new black heritage blood donors this year to meet the growing need. Article continues below Regular blood transfusions form the first line of defence against the condition, with patients responding best to donations containing the Ro blood type, which is significantly more prevalent in donors of black heritage. More than half (56%) of donors of black heritage are likely to have the Ro blood type, compared with just 2.4% of other ethnicities. Dunn, 34, said: "As a mother who has seen her child battle sickle cell, I am committed to doing all I can to help him, and the thousands of other people with the condition, have the best chance to live a full and healthy life. "That's why I've come to Brixton to give blood and ask the black community to register to do the same. "By giving an hour of your time three to four times a year, you can save up to 12 lives – that's an amazing power you have in your hands. "I'm incredibly thankful to the record numbers of black donors who have given blood in Brixton and across the country, but as numbers of sickle cell patients increase, so too does the need for more donors to come forward. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) director of donor experience Mark Chambers said: "We've seen a great response to our calls for more black heritage donors to sign up to become blood donors, but the need for more to register and become regular blood donors is growing. "Blood transfusions to pre-empt sickle cell crises are helping more people live well with the condition, but on average we need 250 donations a year to help them, that's why it's vitally important we recruit more black heritage donors. "Jourdan's support, both as an NHS ambassador and a donor, will hopefully encourage others to follow her lead and spare an hour of their time to make a lifesaving difference." Sickle cell patient Calvin Campbell said: "I owe my life to the generosity of black heritage donors. "Every four weeks I need to have 10 to 12 units of blood transfused into my body to allow me to be relatively healthy. "Without those blood donations I would have died years ago and not have the life I have now. Article continues below "I wouldn't have had children, grandchildren, and the ability to work." Those wanting to donate blood can register via the NHSBT app, visit or call 0300 123 23 23.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Tu jiye hazaaron saal': President Droupadi Murmu moved to tears as differently-abled students sing birthday song for her during Dehradun visit; watch video
President Droupadi Murmu was moved by a birthday song from visually impaired students during her Uttarakhand visit. She is set to inaugurate a public park and open Rashtrapati Niketan and Tapovan to the public. NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu was visibly emotional on Friday as students of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities sang a heartfelt rendition of 'Baar baar din yeh aaye, baar baar dil yeh gaaye, tu jiye hazaaron saal, yeh meri hai aarzoo' to wish her on her birthday. A video of the moment shows the President listening intently as the children, many of them with visual impairments, sang the iconic song in unison, filling the hall with warmth and applause. The touching gesture came during her ongoing three-day visit to Uttarakhand, which began on Thursday. Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had received her at Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport. During her visit, President Murmu is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art public park spread across 132 acres on Rajpur Road. The park, officials said, will be completed within a year and opened to the public. In another key highlight, Rashtrapati Niketan — earlier known as Rashtrapati Ashiyana — will be thrown open to the public from June 24. The 24-acre heritage site features artefact displays, water bodies like Lily Talab and Rokari Talab, and a rose garden. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Additionally, Rashtrapati Tapovan, a 19-acre serene retreat with wooden bridges and meditation spots, will also be dedicated to the public. Meanwhile, President Murmu's scheduled visit to Madhya Pradesh on June 18–19 has been cancelled. She was slated to attend a state-level event marking World Sickle Cell Day in Barwani district. The Indore Collector confirmed the cancellation on social media, citing changes in her itinerary.
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Sickle Cell patients growing in tribal pockets of undivided Visakhapatnam district, says expert
Sickle Cell Disease is prevalent among the tribal people, particularly those living in the Agency areas of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, according to Paripandla Sridevi, an Associate Professor in the Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram. An estimated 1% of the total population has SCD, and 4% are carriers of the sickle cell trait, Prof. Sridevi said on the eve of World Sickle Cell Day, which is observed on June 19 every year. Prof. Sridevi has been conducting research in the tribal areas of the undivided Visakhapatnam district in the North Andhra region, for the past three years. The research is being conducted as part of the ICMR–National Task Force Project, which has been going on for the past seven years. The SCD is caused by sickle cell gene, a defective one which looks like a sickle. People affected with the disease are born with two sickle cell genes—one from each parent. Those born with one sickle cell gene, called sickle cell trait, are generally healthy, but they can pass on the defective gene to their children, she said. 'Initially, Prof. Sudhakar of the Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University, has worked on the project. Then I worked on the same project in Madhya Pradesh. I have been working on the project for the past three years at Gannela, Madagada and Paderu of ASR district,' Prof. Sridevi told The Hindu. 'I have noticed that SCD patients are unable to get blood transfusions and hydroxyurea on time due to poor amenities in the tribal areas. Stigma is attached to the disease as many tribal people think it is a curse. Some others dismiss it as common anaemia. We train ASHA workers to create awareness among the tribals on the need to opt for timely treatment for SCD and to dispel the myths,' she said. Prof. Sridevi said such research projects act as a bridge between the tribal people and the government as they bring the issues to the notice of the authorities concerned. 'We want the treatment facilities of SCD to be improved. We counsel tribal people about the dangers associated with marriages between close relations, a common practice in the Agency areas,' she said. Quoting from data provided by ASR district DM&HO Dr. Jamal Basha, Prof. Sridevi said that 4,10,380 have been screened for sickle cell anaemia in the undivided Visakhapatnam district as on June 18. Among them, 1,488 were identified as SCD positive, 12,599 carriers and 3,80,665 were negative. The government has made arrangements for the necessary medicines and nutrition for the patients with the goal completely eradicating SCD in Andhra Pradesh by 2047.
Hans India
14 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Eradication possible through awareness: Collector
Vijayawada: NTR district collector Dr G Lakshmisha on Thursday emphasised that Sickle Cell Anaemia can be eradicated through comprehensive awareness, announcing large-scale awareness programmes which commenced on June 19. He highlighted a robust action plan in place to curb the disease, with a specific focus on tribal areas. On Thursday, to mark World Sickle Cell Day, the District Medical and Health Department organised a Sickle Cell awareness programme at the Kondapalli Tribal Welfare Girls' School. Collector Lakshmisha, along with other officials, unveiled posters, pamphlets, and manuals related to the Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission and comprehensive disease information. Speaking at the event, the collector stressed the urgent need to create widespread awareness about the disease across various segments of society, as part of the mission to eradicate Sickle Cell Anaemia even before 2047. He explained that while healthy red blood cells are typically round, in Sickle Cell Anaemia, these cells are crescent-shaped. He clarified that the disease is hereditary, passed from parents, and is not contagious. He added that the disease can be diagnosed through a simple blood test. He reassured that individuals with Sickle Cell Anaemia need not worry, as timely identification and proper medical care can significantly improve a patient's quality of life.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Uttarakhand for 3-day visit
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 19 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday arrived in Dehradun for a three-day visit. Uttarakhand Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami received the President Murmu at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. The President will lay the foundation stone of a state-of-the-art public park being developed on 132 acres of land on Rajpur Road in Dehradun. This park will be completed in one year and dedicated to the public, an official statement read. On the other hand, Rashtrapati Niketan, spread over 24 acres, will be opened to the general public on June 24. Before Rashtrapati Niketan, it was known as Rashtrapati Aashiyana. In addition to the collection of artefacts in this heritage building, visitors will get to see Lily Talab, Rokari Talab, Rose Garden, etc. In addition, Rashtrapati Tapovan, spread over 19 acres, will be dedicated to the general public. It has winding paths, wooden bridges, and quiet places for contemplation and meditation. Earlier, President Murmu's visit to Madhya Pradesh from June 18 to 19 has been cancelled, as per information from the Collector of Indore. President Murmu was supposed to visit Indore and Barwani on June 18 and 19, which has been cancelled. The Indore Collector shared a post on his official 'X' handle and informed about the development.'Her Excellency President Draupadi Murmu's visit to Indore and Barwani on 18th and 19th June has been cancelled', the 'X' post read. President Droupadi Murmu was scheduled to participate in a state-level programme on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day to be held in Taloon Gram Panchayat in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district on June 19, as per a press release. President Murmu was the chief guest at the program, and Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, and other ministers were scheduled to attend. (ANI)
