## [World Sickle Cell Day 2019](/news/world-sickle-cell-day-2019 "World Sickle Cell Day 2019") For over 40 years Novartis has been committed to understanding sickle cell disease and working towards treatment. Jun 19, 2019 ## Uncovering Sickle Cell Disease Through research and the creation of resources, we will not stop our efforts to support this community of patients, providers and caregivers alike. We are honored these patients around the world have shared their stories and are helping us show what living with this disease truly looks like. They are not alone. We are a large community and support system and together we can do more. Every day, people endure the painful and life-threatening symptoms of sickle cell disease in the shadows because of fear, stigma, and isolation. Now, a new picture is emerging. Together with Dr. Alex Kumar, a global health physician and photographer, Novartis is sharing images and stories from around the globe that are intended to inspire the sickle cell community and raise awareness of the disease to help change how the world sees it. > *A very enlightening series from Dr. Alex Kumar and [@Novartis](https://twitter.com/Novartis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) on the untold sickle cell stories of patients around the world to mark [\#worldsicklecellday.](https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldsicklecellday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/I79IfDVcxN](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNlKWlXtDVc)* > > *Vas Narasimhan (@VasNarasimhan) [June 19, 2019](https://twitter.com/VasNarasimhan/status/1141338413876035584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)* Sickle cell disease is a hereditary and life-threatening condition that causes ongoing vascular damage and repeated injury to the blood vessels and organs. This lifelong illness often takes an extreme emotional, physical, and financial toll on patients and their families. More needs to be done to help raise awareness of sickle cell disease, and that is why Novartis is working together with patient support groups around the world to help bring sickle cell disease out of the shadows. Learn more at [UntoldSickleCellStories.com](https://www.notaloneinsicklecell.com/untold-SCD-stories/?utm_source=Novartis-Featured-News&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=2019-06-sickle-cell-disease-phase1&utm_term=UntoldSickleCellStories&utm_content=Photo). ## - ![Sickle cell disease patient, Zakereya, poses in Bahrain to share his story](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-zakareya.jpg.webp?itok=CU8CNF4O "Sickle cell disease patient, Zakereya, poses in Bahrain to share his story") View1/4 - ![Sickle cell disease patient and doctor, Tartania, poses with her brother and father in New York](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-tartania.jpg.webp?itok=qTkOaEGa "Sickle cell disease patient and doctor, Tartania, poses with her brother and father in New York") View2/4 - ![Sickle cell disease patient, Emmanuel, poses with children in UK community center](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-emmanuel.jpg.webp?itok=rAsozhXl "Sickle cell disease patient, Emmanuel, poses with children in UK community center") View3/4 - ![A father stands with his son in a sickle cell clinic in Ghana](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-devex.png.webp?itok=Y9mglJNJ "A father stands with his son in a sickle cell clinic in Ghana") View4/4 ![Sickle cell disease patient, Zakereya, poses in Bahrain to share his story](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-zakareya.jpg.webp?itok=CU8CNF4O "Sickle cell disease patient, Zakereya, poses in Bahrain to share his story") Together with Novartis, Dr Alex Kumar, a global health physician and photographer, is sharing images and stories from around the globe to help change how the world sees sickle cell disease. [Read their stories](https://www.notaloneinsicklecell.com/untold-SCD-stories/?utm_source=Novartis-Featured-News&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=2019-06-sickle-cell-disease-phase1&utm_term=UntoldSickleCellStories&utm_content=Photo) 1/4 ![Sickle cell disease patient and doctor, Tartania, poses with her brother and father in New York](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-tartania.jpg.webp?itok=qTkOaEGa "Sickle cell disease patient and doctor, Tartania, poses with her brother and father in New York") Sickle cell disease is one of the most common genetic blood disorders in the world. It is a chronic, lifelong, debilitating disease that can range in clinical severity. [See the global impact of sickle cell disease](https://www.notaloneinsicklecell.com/untold-SCD-stories/?utm_source=Novartis-Featured-News&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=2019-06-sickle-cell-disease-phase1&utm_term=UntoldSickleCellStories&utm_content=Photo) 2/4 ![Sickle cell disease patient, Emmanuel, poses with children in UK community center](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-emmanuel.jpg.webp?itok=rAsozhXl "Sickle cell disease patient, Emmanuel, poses with children in UK community center") Sickle cell disease goes beyond red blood cells. The disease has an often silent, ongoing effect on blood vessels and other blood cells, too. [Learn the science behind sickle cell disease](https://www.notaloneinsicklecell.com/untold-SCD-stories/?utm_source=Novartis-Featured-News&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=2019-06-sickle-cell-disease-phase1&utm_term=UntoldSickleCellStories&utm_content=Photo) 3/4 ![A father stands with his son in a sickle cell clinic in Ghana](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/image_gallery_full_width/public/2021-08/slideshow-sickle-cell-devex.png.webp?itok=Y9mglJNJ "A father stands with his son in a sickle cell clinic in Ghana") Improving the lives of people with sickle cell disease in Ghana. [Learn more about sickle cell in Ghana](https://devex.shorthandstories.com/sickle-cell-disease-in-Ghana/index.html) 4/4 1. 2. 3. 4. 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