Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Ireland is the official organization set up and run by Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia families, patients and volunteers to raise awareness and support of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia in Ireland through educational workshops, seminars, media, printed information, promoting genetic
screening and to encourage public policy change.

Is to fight the growth of SCD and Thalassaemia in Ireland and create a proper support network between the patients, the community and the health professionals.

Awareness is a major necessity in the breakthrough to proper support and treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia. We aim to raise much needed awareness of Sickle Cell disease in Ireland and work in partnership with other health Organisations and professionals in educating the public about SCD and Thalassaemia. Supporting families afflicted by SCD, encourage social inclusion, genetic screening for SCD, Community support, Youth support networks for young teenagers and adults suffering from SCD.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly haemoglobin S, an abnormal type of haemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that does not receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease. There is currently no universal cure for sickle cell disease.