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 started on February 2008, and came to an end at the beginning of 2009. Located on a 4000 m² field kindly donated for the project by the Government of Niger, the centre will contain a consultation room, a treatment room, 5 hospitalization rooms and a laboratory. It also makes sense that the centre will accomodate the special pharmacy - so far sheltered by the National Hospital of Niamey - bringing together in a single location all the specialized services that the families need.

• 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