THE Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre is staging a series of workshops to mark today’s World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.
The international awareness day is observed annually with the goal to increase public knowledge and an understanding of sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by patients and their families and caregivers.
“We will feature a number of tables at the reception area with staff handing out brochures and teaching materials to educate people about sickle cell disease,” said deputy chair of the hereditary blood disease committee, Dr Raja Sayed Hasan Abdulla AlYusuf. “We will also be holding a number of workshops for nursing in general and other staff to come and learn about the condition.”
The Learning Centre within the Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre, dedicated to the education and training of new medical staff, as well as helping experienced physicians improve their skills and treatments in this field, will also be officially launched to commemorate the day.
“The learning centre will have a number of laptops that are equipped with access to the hospital’s information system that enables doctors and nurses to enter the health records of the patients and statistics to help others learn,” she said.
“There are certain medical periodicals there as well for doctors to get a hold of and learn from to have continuous professional development and to ensure everything practised is evidence-based.
“We are privileged to have it for sickle cell disease management and anyone is welcome to come and use the facility from doctors to nurses and healthcare workers. “We hope to encourage more people to specialise in sickle cell to help treat others and raise awareness.”
Government Hospitals chief executive Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Ansari toured yesterday the Centre at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). The tour was organised by the National Communication Centre, marking the day.
Blood diseases consultant Dr Tharouat Wajdi said the average number of inpatients in the hospital is 100 cases, with a detailed follow-up of cases to ensure the quality of services provided.
Blood diseases consultant Dr Jaffer Al Touq said that overall number of sickle cell patients exceeds 8,000 in Bahrain, including 5,000 who are registered for treatment at SMC.
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