Senegalese company produces first Africa-made sickle cell treatment

THE NEWS: Eighteen‑year‑old Mamadou Tahirou, whose frail frame makes him look about 12, lives with severe sickle‑cell disease that frequently lands him in hospital.

DETAILS:

He suffers from bone pain, severe anaemia, extreme fatigue and intense headaches, leading to regular admissions and adding strain to his daily routine.

Pain episodes often flare up while he is in class, disrupting lessons and forcing him to miss schoolwork, which threatens his academic progress.

He said, “It hurts a lot, and you suffer so much. And when you don’t have enough resources to protect yourself from the illness, you suffer even more. My parents are exhausted, I know that,” highlighting the emotional toll on his family.

FAQ

What symptoms does Mamadou Tahirou experience due to sickle‑cell disease?
Mamadou endures bone pain, severe anaemia, extreme fatigue and intense headaches as chronic effects of sickle‑cell disease. The condition leaves his frame frail and makes him appear about 12 years old despite being 18, and the recurring attacks often force hospital admissions, heightening the strain on his daily routine.

How does his condition affect his education?
Pain episodes can flare up while Mamadou is in class, abruptly stopping lessons and forcing him to miss schoolwork. The unpredictable attacks interrupt his education, causing gaps in learning and threatening his academic progress, as teachers must accommodate his sudden withdrawals from the classroom.

What did Mamadou say about the challenges his family faces?
Mamadou told reporters, “It hurts a lot, and you suffer so much. And when you don’t have enough resources to protect yourself from the illness, you suffer even more. My parents are exhausted, I know that,” expressing the emotional toll the disease takes on both him and his family.

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