The Suffyan Koroma Jr. Sickle Cell Foundation The foundation has been set up in memory of Suffyan Koroma Jr., our son, nephew, friend, etc., who died suddenly on September 27th, 2008 from complications of Sickle Cell Anemia. He was just 11 years old. In areas where Sickle Cell Anemia is common, dedicated centers are required to ensure adequate services for prevention and treatment. The Suffyan Koroma Jr. Sickle Cell Foundation will support the families of children with Sickle Cell Anemia in Sierra Leone by:
What is Sickle Cell Anemia? The disorder affects the red blood cells which contain a special protein called haemoglobin (Hb for short). The function of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Sickle Cell Anemia is a genetic disorder that afflicts thousands of people within Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the Diaspora. Each year people with the disease suffer acute painful episodes or crisis that could potentially result with the loss of their lives. People with Sickle Cell Anaemia have Sickle haemoglobin (HbS) which is different from the normal haemoglobin (HbA). When sickle haemoglobin gives up its oxygen to the tissues, it sticks together to form long rods inside the red blood cells making these cells rigid and sickle-shaped. These HbS can't squeeze through small blood vessels as easily as the donut-shaped normal cells. This leads to low oxygen level and thus severe pain and damage to organs. The diagram below shows the movement of donut-shaped normal hemogoblin that move freely in the red blood cells and then sickle-shaped hemogoblin that clog up and cannot go through the cell.
Ambrit has held yearly benefit concerts to raise funds for the foundation (view latest invitation). This year, the concert raised €1300 euros and the school's new Foundation for Innovation in Education in Italy matched that sum. |
