In Senegal, new prospects are opening up for patients with sickle cell disease. A medical event was held in Dakar to discuss this genetic blood disorder and the arrival of a promising treatment, hydroxyurea. This treatment is crucial for a population where 10% of individuals are carriers of this condition, especially in a country where the disease represents a major public health issue.

Improved access thanks to Drepaf

For a few weeks now, the generic version of hydroxyurea, named Drepaf, has been available in several pharmacies in Dakar. Produced by the Teranga Pharma laboratory, this medication is particularly suitable for children and is offered at a price twice as low as the original. Mouhamadou Sow, director of Teranga Pharma, spoke about the importance of this availability: “The product can be used from nine months, allowing children to live without pain and access education like their peers.”

The statistics are alarming: without treatment, more than half of patients with sickle cell disease die before the age of 10. The situation is even more concerning as projections from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that by 2050, the number of births affected by this disease could reach 500,000 per year in Africa.

A public health issue

Professor Zeynabou Fall, a specialist in sickle cell disease, emphasizes the importance of considering this disease as a public health priority, just like cancer, malaria, or diabetes. Currently, 16,000 boxes of Drepaf have been packaged and distributed, with a promise to resume production from January 2026 to expand the supply to neighboring countries.