“A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow.”

— Richard Bach

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a life-threatening, inherited blood disorder that significantly shortens life expectancy and severely impairs quality of life. It is especially widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, where healthcare systems are often ill-equipped to manage the disease. Existing treatment options are scarce, costly, and offer only limited clinical benefit. In most cases, care is restricted to basic symptom management, which fails to prevent serious complications or provide sustainable health improvements.

In response to this urgent need, the treatment PC1434n was introduced in 2013 in several African countries. A 2018 study concluded that PC1434n offers a cost-effective, accessible alternative, showing clear improvements in pain reduction, overall health, and functioning across age groups (See graph). ARHF calls for broader application, training, and research to expand its reach to underserved populations.