馃嚙馃嚝Burkina FasoWest Africa
Burkinabe student E.O. navigates life with sickle cell disease
via Lefaso.net4 min read
E.O., a 25-year-old German studies student in Burkina Faso, lives with sickle cell disease SS genotype, diagnosed at age four. Despite frequent hospitalizations, intense bone pain, and severe anemia, she maintains a calm demeanor. She recounts a month-long hospitalization at age 18 while preparing for her baccalaureate exams, which she passed with a scholarship, considering it a significant victory against her illness. E.O. is the second of four children and receives strong family support, but faces societal prejudice from those who misunderstand her condition, sometimes being labeled lazy due to the need to moderate physical activity. She highlights that sickle cell disease is often misunderstood because its symptoms are not always externally visible. The disease has also left physical marks; between 2022 and 2024, she underwent two surgeries for hip pain, resulting in femoral prostheses and a slight limp. To manage her condition, E.O. has adapted her lifestyle, avoiding intense fatigue, protecting herself from climate variations, maintaining a healthy diet, and drinking at least two liters of water daily. She encourages other sickle cell patients to accept their condition, seek medical follow-up, and manage their diet. E.O. also calls on authorities to subsidize medication costs for accessibility, recruit more hematologists, and urges consistent blood donations, as sickle cell patients often require blood transf.
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On June 19, 2026, World Sickle Cell Day, Professor Fla Koeta, president of the Burkinabe Society of Pediatrics SOBUPED, raised awareness about sickle cell disease. This genetic hemoglobin disorder affects red blood cells, which transport oxygen in the body. Inherited when both parents carry the responsible gene, it manifests as painful crises, chronic anemia, and repeated infections, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Professor Koeta urged young people to know their hemoglobin electrophoresis status to make informed choices before marriage. He also called on healthcare professionals to enhance care quality and for goodwill efforts to support vulnerable patients. He expressed compassion for those affected and their families. The disease is characterized by vaso-occlusive crises, chronic hemolytic anemia, and recurrent infections. In younger patients, symptoms include swollen hands and feet, abdominal pain, and pain in arms and legs. Serious complications can arise, such as bone and lung infections, long-term kidney and eye damage, and strokes. These often lead to school absences, reduced participation in play, and constant parental anxiety. Diagnosis is possible through examinations at certain health facilities, allowing for prompt care. Children with sickle cell disease require more attention due to their chronic condition, including medical care, tolerance in educational settings, opportunities for development, proper nutrition, and clothing. Adhering to heal