Sickle Cell is the commonest genetic disorder seen in Jamaica. In keeping with the mandate of the Sickle Cell Unit (SCU) to improve the lives of individuals affected by sickle cell disease through research, education and clinical care the SCU of the Tropical Medicine Research Institute at UWI hosts a conference under the theme "Managing Sickle Cell Disease: The Chronic Care Model" on October 30-31, 2008. The Conference is designed to share knowledge about the disease in order to improve the care and treatment of persons affected by sickle cell.

The Conference begins with an Opening Ceremony on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge and Conference Centre, UWI, Mona. On this occasion the local Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Sickle Cell Disease will be launched. The Launch will be followed by a day-long symposium on Friday October 31, 2008 starting at 8 am at the Main Medical Lecture Theatre, located at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The Symposium features lectures and discussions on various aspects of the disease such as management of pain, infections in sickle cell disease, health maintenance including immunizations and hydroxyurea therapy.

The Conference will also honour Professor Graham Serjeant, world renowned authority on sickle cell disease and the first Director of the SCU for his decades of service to patients with sickle cell disease in Jamaica. The guest speaker for the Conference is Dr. Russell Ware, Head of Haematology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, USA.

Family members, friends, persons affected by sickle cell disease, health care providers and other interested persons may attend the Symposium on Friday, October 31, 2008.  CME credits are awarded to health care providers for participation in the Symposium.

For further information please click the following link: http://www.mona.uwi.edu/notices/2008/sicklecellconference.pdf or contact Dr. Monika Asnani at 927-2471 or 977-6151-2.