A day care unit to treat patients suffering from sickle cell anaemia opens in the country’s main hospital today (July 5).

It aims to reduce waiting lines at the accident and emergency department of Salmaniya Medical Complex and prevent patients from being admitted overnight, reported the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

The unit will initially only cater to men, the Health Ministry said yesterday. Women and children will continue to receive treatment at the accident and emergency department until further notice.

Establishing the unit was part of recommendations made by a team of experts from US-based Johns Hopkins Hospital Sickle Cell Infusion Centre for Adults.

The GDN reported last month that the unit aimed to help patients get quick and exclusive attention and at the same time stop them from having to stay overnight in the hospital.

Six Bahrainis have died so far this year from complications related to the disease, while 46 deaths were recorded last year.

This compares with 32 deaths in 2013, 47 in 2012, 32 in 2011, 35 in 2010, and 25 in 2009. – TradeArabia News Service