Inherited haemoglobin disorders: an increasing global health problem

Despite major advances in our understanding of the molecular pathology, pat hophysiology, and control and management of the inherited disorders of haem oglobin, thousands of infants and children with these diseases are dying th rough lack of appropriate medical care. This problem Will undoubtedly incre ase over the next 20 years because, as the result of a reduction in childho od mortality due to infection and malnutrition, more babies with haemoglobi n disorders will survive to present for treatment. Although WHO and various voluntary agencies have tried to disseminate information about these disea ses, they are rarely mentioned as being sufficiently important to be includ ed in setting health care priorities for the future. It takes considerable time to establish expertise in developing programmes for the control and ma nagement of these conditions, and the lessons learned in developed countrie s will need to be transmitted to those countries in which they occur at a h igh frequency.