A GLOBAL advocate of sickle cell disease (SCD), who is visiting the country for the third time, praised Bahrain’s measures to tackle the ailment and said she felt ‘safe’ here.
Sickle cell warrior Anne Welsh said she had been left in intensive care situations following pain attacks during visits to several countries, which failed to provide immediate care.
“When I come to Bahrain, I feel safe and at home and I know that even if I fall sick, they will take care of me. I won’t be out there trying to figure out what to do,” said Ms Welsh in an exclusive interview with the GDN.
SCD is characterised by abnormal blood cells that take on a rigid, sickle-like shape and sufferers are at risk of a variety of acute and chronic health issues, including infection, attacks of severe pain known as sickle-cell crisis and stroke.
“I’ve travelled to several countries and I’ve seen it as a sickle cell warrior. There are places where so many people live with the disorder, but they are not integrated into the communities, they are still isolated.
“I keep returning back (to Bahrain) because I feel I’m not alone here.”
The British national of Nigerian origin is the founder and chief executive of Painless Universal, an international platform focusing on future of healthcare and the First Deputy of Amplify Sickle Cell Voices International. She is on a three-day visit to the kingdom to assess how Bahrain’s SCD community is adapting in the post-pandemic world.
“I applaud Bahrain as I see that post-pandemic, people with chronic illnesses including SCD, are doing much better here because they’ve been integrated into society,” she said.
“The biggest challenge Bahrain has overcome is integration and inclusivity.
“That is where Bahrain is different – the community and the government together have incorporated sufferers into society to make their life better.”
Ms Welsh, the author of Pain-Less and entrepreneur praised Bahrain’s ‘tool sets’ to tackle the SCD challenge – which includes integrating patients into society and offering comprehensive hospital care and education.
“Nobody is doing it the way Bahrain does and this secret should not just stay here, all countries should see how they could use it to improve lives.”
Ms Welsh, second from left, was received by Education Minister Dr Majid Al Nuaimi, who highlighted there were 2,854 children (male and female) who suffered from SCD. Right, Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care president Zakareya Al Kadhem
She lauded the Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre, a multidisciplinary clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex which offers comprehensive treatment options to SCD sufferers. She also credited the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care for its silent work in ‘peace and in harmony’. Meanwhile, Ms Welsh urged caregivers and decision-makers to be kinder to sufferers.
“SCD is an invisible illness, most of us don’t show disability, but it is painful and when I think about the pain, it gives me chills.
“My message to caregivers and decision makers is to be kinder to us, to forgive us.
“We’re not noisemakers, but just dealing with our own trauma and pain.”
She stressed the need for support because “when one person is successful in overcoming the pain, it is an inspiration to others.”
She also advised all patients to understand that ‘pain is universal’.
“Yes, our pain hurts, but those who are doing their best to see you survive are also going through their own suffering. Let’s flip the coin around and understand, we need to be empathetic, we need to stop feeling sorry for ourselves alone.”
The 41-year-old is married to Canadian Marvin Welsh, an oil and gas executive and lives with their two children, 12-year-old Connor and four-year-old Caroline, in North West London.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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