World Sickle Cell Day: A look back in pictures and personal accounts: Malaria & Hydroxyurea

World Sickle Cell Day, celebrated every June 19th, is not only a time for raising awareness, but also a testament to a battle fought in silence and often in pain for all those living with sickle cell disease. In this silence, extraordinary people have risen up: you, the healthcare professionals, you who echo our suffering. If you are wholeheartedly committed to our health, your presence by our side must be marked by kindness, patience, and invaluable expertise. Despite your dedication, we wish to address some everyday realities that can bring us joy. We hope to be welcomed with more kindness and courtesy, especially when the pain is unbearable,” said Dorcas Kabila , the girl holding the paper in her left hand and placing her right hand on her cheek, a young woman with sickle cell disease followed at the IRB 1-HEALTH sickle cell clinic.

Honorable Member of Parliament, Christelle VUANGA, dressed in a pink suit: "We spent a wonderful moment of friendship, exchange, and above all, hope with the children with sickle cell disease and their parents. These children have been supported since birth by loving and highly qualified staff under the leadership of Dr. #Tshilolo . All my admiration goes to these courageous and resilient parents."

" Fighting against prejudice in society, as well as discrimination and stigmatization at the legal level in the DRC, is our struggle. I didn't understand why, for #HIV , an employer doesn't have the right to dismiss someone, but an employer can dismiss someone with sickle cell disease, under the pretext that they have many crises, you have to leave. And the person with sickle cell disease is not protected by law," declared Christelle Vuanga, National Deputy, elected from the #Funa electoral district, during a day of awareness and advocacy for sickle cell disease, under the theme: "Malaria and hydroxyurea".