Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa: news from Nigeria

An innovative approach to sickle cell screening in Uganda - Interview with Charles Kiyaga

More than 300,000 babies are born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) each year in sub-Saharan Africa, many resulting in death by the age of five. The Consortium on Newborn Screening in Africa (CONSA) and their network of partners are taking life-saving action by demonstrating the effectiveness of early intervention. The aim to screen up to 10,000–20,000 babies per country annually and to provide clinical follow-up for SCD-positive babies. See a presentation by Dr. Maureen Achebe to learn more.

In her enlightening presentation, Dr. Venée N. Tubman takes a historical perspective on our understanding of Sickle Cell Disease. From African folk beliefs and oral histories, to early clinical observations in the 19th century, to the first newborn screening efforts in the USA in the 1970s, to the present challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Tubman discusses how newborn screening could make a great difference in future decades, and what potentially lies ahead. See the presentation for great insights on SCD.