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Friends of Monkole' launches campaign to operate on young Congolese with sickle cell anemia

The Friends of Monkole Foundation has launched a campaign to pay for hip operations for 10 young Congolese affected by sickle cell anemia. Its goal: to raise 15,000 euros for crucial surgical interventions to improve the patients' quality of life.

Omnes Editorial Staff

April 8, 2025

Through the platform Migranodearena.org, the Friends of Monkole Foundation has launched a campaign for fund raising to raise 15,000 euros to pay for 10 surgeries for young Congolese people affected by sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disease that affects thousands of young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, preventing them from carrying out daily activities such as playing games, playing sports or attending school.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, about 25% of the population carries the sickle cell gene, and 40,000 children are born annually with the disease, which has a very high mortality rate.

This pathology causes femoral necrosis that requires urgent surgery for the implantation of hip prostheses, allowing those affected to recover mobility and improve their quality of life.

In many cases, people suffering from this disease face stigmatization and live in extremely vulnerable conditions, especially in the most disadvantaged areas of Kinshasa.

Proper treatment saves lives

Victor Barro, a physician specializing in traumatology and orthopedic surgery, will travel to the Congo from April 16 to 25 to perform operations at Monkole Hospital. This will be his twelfth trip to the country, where he has performed more than 100 operations on young people with sickle cell anemia.

According to Dr. Barro, with proper treatment, patients can begin to lead a normal life within a few days after surgery, which represents a unique opportunity to improve their future. The budget for each intervention includes diagnostic tests, surgery, postoperative follow-up and preventive treatment against anemia.

Each operation costs 1,500 euros and covers all the necessary aspects, from medical consultations to post-surgical rehabilitation.

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