Duration: July to October, 2025
Abstract: The prevalence of haemoglobin S (Hb S) in Cape Verde is a reality which, combined with a lack of diagnosis and genetic counselling, contributes to the high risk of children being born with sickle cell disease. The PREV-HbS project aims to implement a programme to study the prevalence of Hb S in pregnant women and women of childbearing age, aged between 16 and 49, identifying the carriers and enabling early intervention; train local health professionals – including physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians – in the early diagnosis and clinical follow-up of sickle cell disease; promote genetic literacy and reproductive counselling, reducing the risk of transmission and improving the quality of life of families.
Coordinator: Celeste Bento
Participants: Luis Relvas, Linette Fernandes, Conceição Pinto, António Maximiano Fernandes, Pamela Borges, Guilherme Ǫueiroz, Licínio Manco, Joana Ramos
Partner institutions: ALUA – Aliança Lusófona de Especialistas para a Doença Falciforme (Coordenação); Hospital Universitário Agostinho Neto, Praia, Santiago; Hospital Dr. Baptista de Sousa, Mindelo, São Vicente; Laboratório Bioanalitica Lda; Centro de Investigação em Antropologia e Saúde (CIAS); Unidade Funcional de Hematologia Molecular; Associação Portuguesa de Pais e Doentes com Hemoglobinopatias (APPDH).
Financial support: Programa “Saúde nos Junta” da Secretaria Geral do Ministério da Saúde de Portugal