Four women living with multiple sclerosis (MS) found each other through a sorority for women with chronic illnesses — and realized there was no space built specifically for women with MS to connect, heal and thrive. So they created their own, founding Alpha Eta Phi in 2021 as the first and only non-collegiate sorority dedicated to women navigating life with the disease.
Tag: sickle cell disease
Posted inHBCU
Prairie View A&M University launches pilot program to support students with sickle cell disease
Prairie View A&M University has launched the Student Sickle Cell Warrior Project, a first-of-its-kind pilot program to support college students living with sickle cell disease. The initiative, which connects students to specialized medical care and community resources, aims to become a national model for improving health outcomes and academic success for students with the condition.
Posted inBaltimore News
Unlocking sickle cell mysteries: Dr. Ambroise Wonkam speaks on genetic modifiers and patient outcomes
Dr. Ambroise Wonkam, director of genetic medicine at Johns Hopkins, has dedicated his career to studying genetic variation in African populations and its impact on conditions like sickle cell disease. He explains how African-specific genetic modifiers could unlock new treatments, not just for sickle cell patients, but for improving healthcare globally.
Posted inHealth
Experts urge families to seek genetic counseling early
Early genetic counseling gives families crucial information and support, turning uncertainty about rare diseases into informed decisions, community connections and hope for their children’s health and future.
Posted inHealth
National Blood Donor Month: a look at the importance of blood donation in the Black community
By Gene LambeySpecial to the AFRO During the National Blood Donor Month of January, the AFRO is taking a moment to acknowledge the importance of blood donation and concerns regarding the service in the Black community. Donating blood at blood banks, blood drives or hospitals may in fact save someone’s life. In the Black community, […]
Posted inHealth
Promising new gene therapies for sickle cell are out of reach in countries where they’re needed most
By Laura UngarAP Science Writer Gautam Dongre’s two children in India and Pascazia Mazeze’s son in Tanzania live with an inherited blood disorder that turns blood cells into instruments of pain. New gene therapies promise a cure for sickle cell disease, and Dongre says he’s “praying the treatment should come to us.” But experts say […]
Posted inHealth
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month- do you know your status?
By Mylika Scatliffe, AFRO Women’s Health Writer September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States, and it affects approximately 100,000 Americans– mainly African Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the disease occurs among one out of every […]