(Antigua Observer) – The American University of Antigua (AUA) College of Medicine, in partnership with the Sickle Cell Association of Antigua and Barbuda (SCAAB), has donated an additional year’s supply of HemoTypeSC sickle cell testing kits to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center (SLBMC).
According to press release, this donation builds on AUA’s and SCAAB’s ongoing efforts to expand early childhood detection and long-term management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Antigua and Barbuda.
Present for the handover were Mr Vernon Solomon, Senior Vice President & COO (Antigua) at AUA; Dr Edda Hadeed, SCAAB President; and Dr Shivon Belle-Jarvis, SLBMC’s Medical Director.
Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder causing abnormal red blood cells, which can lead to severe pain, anemia, and life-threatening complications. Each year, about four to five babies in Antigua and Barbuda are born with sickle cell disease, while approximately 10–14 percent of newborns have the trait. Around 18 percent of the country’s population are carriers, raising risks for couples who are both trait positive.
