Morgan Gives Back

In the course of many years working with customers all over the world, our employees many times form bonds beyond that of the regular business relationship. Such is the case with the staff of the Sickle Cell Unit in the Tropical Medicine Research Institute at the University of the West Indies. Visits to Kingston, Jamaica have always been enlightening; employees from our company have been struck by the grace and dedication shown by the staff at the Sickle Cell Center. Work at the Center is challenging and sometimes quite upsetting, but the warmth of the Jamaican smiles and compassion for their patients always seems to shine through. Collectively our employees felt they wanted to contribute to the work in Kingston and we hope that in some small way our support can make a difference.

The partnership between Morgan Scientific & the Sickle Cell Unit, Jamaica

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an important health problem in Jamaica where one child in every 150 births has the disease and more than 10% of all adults are at risk of having an affected child. The World Health Organization estimates the births of children with SCD as 0.07/1000 infants in Europe, 0.49/1000 infants in American, 0.68/1000 infants in South-East Asia, 0.84/1000 infants in the eastern Mediterranean and 10.68/1000 infants in Africa.

In persons suffering from SCD the red blood cells are sickle shaped instead of being round. They damage and block the blood vessels and can cause problems affecting every organ in the body. The most common problem is pain in the bones which can be recurrent and severe. The most common cause of premature death is pulmonary disease.

The motto of the Sickle Cell Unit in Jamaica is “Improving lives through Research, Education and Clinical Care”. We provide free ambulatory health care to over four thousand people with SCD. Research undertaken here has changed the clinical management of every person in the world with SCD.

The provision of pulmonary function equipment and continued supply of testing accessories by Morgan Scientific is critical to improving the clinical care we provide for our patients and deepening the pulmonary research we undertake. The instruments provided will also be used to improve pulmonary health of other children attending the main academic hospital in Jamaica and to augment the learning experience of medical students and pediatricians in training. The Sickle Cell Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies deeply appreciates the support of Morgan Scientific and the good will with which it is given.

Jennifer Knight-Madden, M.D.
Senior Lecturer/Pediatric Pulmonologist.