In May of 2016, eight UBC MD students will be travelling to Western Nepal as part of a sickle cell screening project. It was recently discovered that sickle cell disease has been completely undocumented in Western Nepal and remains a significant public health issue for the Nepali government.
“Our goals as medical students are to spend time investigating the prevalence of the disease in the population as well as assist in the education of locals regarding the disease sequelae” says Abhi Cherukupalli, a first-year medical student. “We will be setting up screening clinics for members of the community to attend in order to determine whether they have the disease.”
The team of students will be working with local healthcare professionals and technicians to screen as many people as possible while also offering counselling and referrals for those who test positive.
“Our intent is to seek nationwide support from companies and organizations to achieve these goals,” Cherukupalli explains. “By bringing attention to the prevalence of sickle cell anemia in Western Nepal, we hope to encourage the Nepali government to provide better support and healthcare subsidies to those diagnosed.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that is prevalent in large areas of South Asia as well as other areas around the world. The disease has many associated health issues, including the impaired ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body’s tissues. The change in the shape of red blood cells hinders their ability to pass through the body’s tiny capillaries. This causes them to get wedged inside and obstruct blood flow to downstream tissue. This process may have widespread implications, both in the short and long term ranging from sudden intense pain crises to accumulated damage to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, bones and joints. Currently the prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease in Western Nepal is unknown due to the nature of remote villages spread across the country. If these individuals are left unaware of their condition and not treated, they may suffer from various ailments that may deter their ability to participate effectively in society.
Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated; every $10 raised corresponds to an additional patient the team will be able to screen while in Nepal. For more information on the project and to donate please visit https://ubcsicklecell.wordpress.com/