UGANDA SICKLE CELL RESCUE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
2nd QUARTER
Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation (USCRF) a registered Non-profit Organization working to promote Sickle cell awareness and prevention while improving the quality of life of people living with Sickle cell Disease. ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED HOSPITAL VISITS In total we made 3 hospital visits (sickle cell clinics) to Mpigi health centre, 7 visits to Nsambya and 7 visits to Mulago for counseling and sensitization. Information shared included hygiene, adherence to drugs, nutrition,stigma,self-esteem how sickle cell is acquired among others. We managed to reach out to 540 people in total.
OUTREACHES
On the 20th we had an outreach in Seguku. This event was a community health day organized by one of our community support group leaders with other community members from Seguku . It was mainly about Sickle cell awareness and screening which was provided by UCSRF and Ministry of Health. However other health service providers were also present. These included MildMay which offered HIV and Cervical Cancer screening, Dental services, Nutrition education and Blood pressure checkup and Uganda Blood Transfusion Services dealing with blood donation. We reached out to 175 people with information 149 tested (56 male, 93 female)
Summary of Results
| Number of people tested | Reactive | Non reactive | Total |
| Male | 8 | 46 | 54 |
| Female | 19 | 69 | 88 |
| Kids | 7 needed a confirmatory test | ||
| Total | 27 | 115 | 149 |
On 01/05/2017 Pan-African Sickle Cell Federation International (PASCFI) invited organizations handling sickle cell awareness in Uganda to join them while they were donating drugs (Folic acid) to Holly Foundation an organisation dealing with sickle cell in Luwero. Organisations that took part were Uganda Sickle Cell Rescue Foundation, Sickle Cell Network Uganda and SULZNER.
WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY World Sickle Cell day press conference
A press conference was held at Ministry of Health premises on the 14th. This was about the preparations of the world Sickle cell day commemoration in Kamuli organized by the Ministry of Health. It was headed by the Permanent Secretary and she shared information on how sickle cell is transferred from one generation to another, its prevalence in different parts of the country, what has been done to curb the burden, the contribution of various partners and a brief about how the day was going to be like in Kamuli. We were invited to take part and we handed over our contribution to help in the preparation of the celebrations.
Sickle Cell day Commemoration
The world sickle cell day commemoration took place in Kamuli on the 19th June. It is an annual event and this was organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with USCRF, other sickle cell organizations and some co-operate companies. The speaker of Uganda was the guest of honor and the activities carried out included sickle cell screening, awareness, counseling and experience sharing from those living with the disease and the caregivers. A team of counselors from USCRF together with other counselors offered sensitization and counseling services to the community members.
KABAKA BIRTH DAY RUN
The Kabaka run is an annual event primarily meant to celebrate the birthday of the Buganda Kingdom king, Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II with particular Corporate Social Responsibility causes attached to the run. This time round, the proceeds were meant to help patients of the sickle cell disease and USCRF was one of the partners who participated.
COUNSELLING AT OFFICE
We have counseling at office and in the past three months we have 63 people benefitting from this service. We provide general information on sickle cell, counseling and medication. Out of the 63 people, 30 received folic acid. 
SCREENING AT OFFICE
Every Wednesday we offer free screening services at office. Here is a breakdown of results from the past three months. In total 79 people were screened.
Summary of Results
| Number of people tested | Reactive | Non reactive | Total |
| Male | 10 | 23 | 33 |
| Female | 13 | 20 | 34 |
| Kids | 7 Sicklers 3 Traits | 3 | 12 |
| Total | 33 | 46 | 79 |
MEDIA PROGRAM
For the past three months we have managed to have 6 media shows. We held 3 talk shows on Pearl FM and issues to do with nutrition, sickle cell management skills and life planning skills were aired out. During one of the shows, a parent to a sickler shared how they treat their child for her to stay healthy. We had 2 talk shows on Salam TV on the 3rd and 20th April. Information shared included what USCRF is about and who we work with, how Sickle cell is acquired, stigma associated with it, how it’s managed for someone to live healthy and how they should be treated. Delta TV also hosts every last Tuesday of the month. On the 25th we had a talk show on how to handle sickle cell medication.
CENTENARY BANK GRANT
We received a grant from Centenary Bank in support of our screening activities. 
INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME
An orientation for internship students was carried out from office.
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