Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 07:10 IST
World Sickle Cell Day 2025: The day serves as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by the patients and families impacted by the chronic and agonising disease.
World Sickle Cell 2025: The theme for this year is “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy”. (File Pic)
World Sickle Cell Day 2025: An annual observance held globally on June 19, World Sickle Day, aims to increase public awareness about sickle cell disease. It also serves as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by the patients and families impacted by the chronic and agonising disease. Sickle cell disease, or sickle cell anaemia, refers to a group of hereditary disorders that affect haemoglobin.
World Sickle Cell Day 2025: Theme
The theme for World Sickle Cell Day 2025 is “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy”. The theme underlines the need to amplify the voices of those affected by sickle cell anaemia directly or indirectly, viz patients and their family members. It also seeks to share empowering stories of resilience and advocacy, according to the Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO).
The observance of World Sickle Cell Day 2025 is also meant to encourage discussions for innovative solutions and best practices for the management of sickle cell anaemia. The theme for this year’s World Sickle Cell Day is also a means of calling upon global stakeholders to unite for relevant research and policy amendments.
Sickle Cell Disease: Causes
Sickle cell disease is caused by an inherited gene mutation that results in disfigured red blood cells (RBCs). The anomaly is caused by the impact that the gene mutation has on the haemoglobin molecule. Haemoglobin is the protein that transports oxygen in RBCs. The disfigured RBCs in a person suffering from sickle cell anaemia are usually in the shape of a sickle and lack the flexibility required to move through the blood vessels in a normal manner.
Sickle Cell Disease: Symptoms
A wide range of symptoms, from modest to severe, are associated with sickle cell disease. Below are some of the more serious signs and symptoms of the disease:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Pain episodes
- Dactylitis (painful swelling of hands and feet)
- Shortness of breath
- Dark urine
Sickle Cell Disease: Advances In Treatment
One of the more recent advances in the treatment of sickle cell disease was the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) late-2023 approval of two first-of-their-kind cell-based gene therapies — Casgevy and Lyfgenia. The groundbreaking regimens were approved for the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients aged over 12.
Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect…Read More
Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect… Read More
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