The World Health Organisation reports that around 1000 children are born with sickle cell disease daily in Africa, making it the most prevalent genetically acquired disease in the region.
In Kenya, 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease each year. The Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya (NCDAK) and the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH), is implementing programmes in 17 sickle cell endemic counties, including Kisii.
“This is a new way of ensuring that children have access to treatment and care immediately after they are born so that they do not grow up with complications from the disease,” noted Dr. Karekezi.
NCDAK Executive Director Dr. Catherine Karekezi said NCDAK is running a newborn screening programme to determine if children are carriers or have sickle cell disease, and it is also conducting pre-marital counselling to inform decisions about marriage and having children.
“It is the responsibility of the government to provide treatment and care for the citizens, including those with sickle cell disease, and other partners are willing to support the efforts of the government,” Karekezi noted.
The MOH is also working with individuals living with sickle cell disease to train them on advocacy and self-management. The MOH is also collaborating with organisations, research institutions, and universities to conduct continuous surveillance on the disease.