The excruciating pain of a heart attack, often likened to the sensation of an elephant pressing down on one’s chest, is universally recognized as agonizing. However, for individuals living with sickle cell disease, a genetic condition that impacts red blood cells, this type of debilitating pain can begin as early as infancy and persist intermittently throughout their entire lives.
Regrettably, many of these individuals receive insufficient assistance in managing their pain, underscoring a profound health inequality that endures more than a century after the identification of sickle cell disease.
As a nursing professor with a research focus on pain management in sickle cell and cancer patients, I am acutely aware of the challenges these individuals face. I also serve as a member of the Lancet Haematology Commission, which recently published a comprehensive report outlining pathways towards achieving global health equity for individuals living with sickle cell disease.
This disheartening reality serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing need to address persistent health disparities, particularly among Black Americans. While significant progress has been made in the field of medicine, the enduring disparities in pain management for sickle cell patients underscore the urgent necessity for comprehensive healthcare reforms and a steadfast commitment to achieving health equity for all.
