Despite India’s progress in maternal health, providing equitable care for women with sickle cell disease (SCD) remains challenging. Chronic pain, anaemia, and organ damage caused by SCD disrupt daily life, education, and work, exacerbating financial and emotional stress, especially during pregnancy. Drawing on existing literature and Sama’s work, this essay examines how SCD impacts pregnancy, healthcare experiences, and broader socioeconomic reproductive outcomes, including maternal mortality. Continue reading

Behind every Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) diagnosis lies a narrative of anxiety, stress, isolation, grief, pain, and resilience. Our work with women and young women from marginalised communities illustrates how mental health remains the most overlooked aspect of SCD. This dimension is often unrecognised by families, overlooked in policy, and inadequately addressed by the health system. This blog attempts to bring that experience to the centre. Continue reading