5th International African Symposium: July 19 to 22, 2005

The Sickle Cell Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana would like to invite you to the 5th International African Symposium on Sickle Cell Disease. The Symposium will be held at the International Conference Center, Accra, Ghana.

The Symposium, third in the series to be held in Accra (July 1995; July 2000), will address issues of clinical services and blood safety in the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. The main objective of the Symposium will be to explore strategies for adopting practices that have proven successful in programs elsewhere for use in Africa. Conference proceedings will be in English and French with simultaneous translation

Background

On December 31, 1904, Walter Clement Noel, a dental student from Grenada, went to the Emergency Room of Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago (U.S.A.), complaining of respiratory distress. Examination of his blood and his medical history revealed SCD to modern medical science for the first time. Of course, SCD had been around for thousands of years before the case of Walter Noel. In Africa, it had been recognized for a long time as a rheumatic disease that runs in families. It was not recognized as a blood disease in Africa.

In the 100 years since its modern discovery, major advances have been made in its diagnosis and treatment. It is even possible to cure SCD through stem cell transplantation. However, many of these advances in the management of SCD have occurred outside of Africa, the home of most of the people born with SCD. Most people born with SCD in Africa probably die young without ever being properly diagnosed. Can we improve clinical services for people with SCD born and living in Africa? This symposium will address issues related to this topic.

Registration fee

Participants from developed countries -- $250
Participants from developing countries (outside Ghana) -- $100
Participants from within Ghana -- $50
Patients and Parents -- No Fee

REGISTRATION FORM
Click here to download a conference registration form.

Call for Abstracts

(Receipt deadline: May 2, 2005)
Research scientists, clinicians, social and psychological experts are invited to submit abstracts for presentation at the Symposium. Abstracts should be on work that is likely to be informative and applicable to SCD programs in developing countries. The following topics are suggested:
- Screening and follow-up
- Laboratory diagnosis
- Genetic counseling
- Management of clinical cases
- New therapies
- Health education
- Psychosocial case strategies

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM
Click here to download an abstract submission form.

Travel, Hotel, Tour

Air travel, hotel lodging and tour of Ghana (and other countries in Africa) will be organized by Prestige Tour & Travel Promotion, Inc. (http://flyprestige.com)
Contact information: Emelia Van-Eck
Prestige Tour & Travel Promotion, Inc.
124 East 40th Street, Suite #304
New York, NY 10016, USA
Telephone: 1-800-232-9638
                  (212) 779-8371
email: emelia@flyprestige.com

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