015: Thriving with Sickle Cell - With Dr. Ojong Bate

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is well reported by the WHO that more than 66% of the 120 million people affected worldwide by sickle cell disease live in Africa. Approximately 1,000 children are born with the disease every day in Africa, making it the most prevalent genetically-acquired disease in the region. More than half of these children will die before they reach the age of five, usually from infection or severe anemia.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What makes this worse is the fact that most African countries do not have the necessary resources to provide comprehensive care for people with sickle cell disease despite the availability of proven cost-effective interventions for prevention, early diagnosis, and management of this condition. This is why we need more advocacy, raise awareness and vigorously educate our community on this disease.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Ojong Bate is here to share her experience living with sickle cell. This episode is heavy, emotional, educational, and sheds more light on how we can help our community to battle Sickle Cell. Hope you learn and pick some key points from this episode, and please remember to share within your circle.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Meet Our Guest :</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Ojong Bate is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager with Walmart Health and Wellness. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD) from the University of Charleston College of Pharmacy and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. She is passionate about health education and Sickle Cell Disease Advocacy. She is also the Founder of Brightstar Foundation; a non-profit foundation in Cameroon, Africa. The Foundation focuses on sickle cell disease education and empowerment. She is a health outcomes enthusiast and she enjoys promoting lifestyle modification in chronic disease management. Her personal interests inclu