SCD is a genetic disease that strikes more than 22 % of the inhabitants of Niger; it is caused by a malformation of the red corpuscles, and is reflected in arterial disorders inducting strong pain attacks, cardiovascular and pneumological issues. SCD is frequently responsible from development  and breathing troubles for the children, as well as bony disorders, especially in the lower limbs.
The treatment of the disease mostly lies in dealing with each of its consequences when it appears (painkillers, oxygenation, transplant, blood transfusion...), because there is no cure for the disease itself. SCD is most of time wrong-diagnosed; screening tests are not used enough to allow a good identitfication of all the carriers of the gene.

The Fight against Sickle Cell Disease in Niger Association (ALDN), association whose members are mostly mothers of suffering children, called for AMADE's help in 2006. This first cooperation gave birth to a special pharmacy dedicated to people suffering from SCD.
Read about the program

 

Nonetheless, a further step remained necessary. Together with Monaco's International Cooperation Division, AMADE and ALDN worked to the building of a special health and research centre in  Niamey. The building engineering took place during the years 2008 and 2009. The objectives of the Centre are the following:

• To medically and psychologically treat the ill families (consultation, hospitalization, social service)
• To favor the screening tests
• To inform and raise the population of Niger awareness
• To develop scientific research on SCD

Located on a 4000 m² field kindly donated for the project by the Government of Niger, the centre contains 2 consultation rooms, a treatment room, 4 hospitalization rooms, a psychosocial treatment room, and the pharmacy dedicated for SCD - bringing together in a single location all the specialized services that the families need.
The staff of the Centre is composed of 13 officers provided by the Ministry of Public Health, among which 3 doctors and 3 nurses. The Centre can accomodate 13 people for day hospitalizations; the most urgent cases are transferred principally to the National Hospital of Niamey.

Since its opening in January 2010, the Centre accomodated 1297 patients, and provided free care to 655 children under the age of 5. 148 patients have been hospitalized in the Centre, and 152 have been transferred to others health institutions.
17 infants aged 0 to 11 months were vaccinated as scheduled by the Ministry of Public Health.
37 awareness and information sessions regarding SCD took place in the Centre and reached 871 people.
27 "social cases" - less fortunate families - have been taken care of with no charge for them.