AMHE Foundation Sickle Cell Initiative

Managed by Dr Rita Bellevue

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AMHE Foundation plan to implement a Sickle Cell Initiative in Haiti to improve the outcome of
individuals with sickle cell disease. The goal is the detection at birth of newborns having sickle
cell hemoglobinopathies. Hemoglobinopathy traits will be identified also for comprehensive care
and reduction of early morbidity and mortality. This goal requires the establishment of a national
screening program of newborns at birth, to select those infants in need of prioritizing immunization and establishing proper therapy where needed. The project will include also comprehensive care for children and adults diagnosed with sickle cell disease.

National data about sickle cell disease in Haiti are almost inexistent and very few screening and
testing programs are performed.  The initiative will include community education and advocacy,
training of physicians, and physician extenders providing care to newborns and infants, including
midwifes, nurses, and laboratory technicians. The use of Telemedicine is expected to ease the
smooth transfer of technology from the first world to Haiti.

A significant challenge exists for the management of such a program. The AMHE Foundation plans to seek assistance from the Department of Health of the National Government, the local Pediatric Society, the Haitian Medical association (AMH), and from various local sickle cell groups that have mushroomed throughout the country.

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Support will be sought from the Global Sickle Cell Disease Network's whose President and Vice-President are in contact with Dr Bellevue. The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will be approached also to request a replication of their involvement in Newborn Screening in Africa. Dr. Bellevue had made the initial approach a few months ago.

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Three young Haitian American hematologists having expertise in sickle cell disease had shown
interest in working with Dr Bellevue in the realization of the project and improving its chance to
be a successful one. The project will be headquartered at the newly inaugurated AMHE-GRAHN Health center located at Genipailler, a subdivision of the commune of Milot, in the North Department.

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The population of Genipailler were very enthusiastic about a poster’s presentation  to  nursing  students on sickle cell disease conducted by Dr Bellevue as part of the Medical Fair  organized
by Haitian physicians and nurses from Canada and US assisted by the nurses from l’Hôpital du
Sacre Coeur  of Milot , Haiti during the spring of 2018  in Genipailler.