- People living with hemophilia face challenges such as access to affordable medication and stigma.
- Dr Shem Jeremiah said awareness will easing the disease burden in the county.
Image: SOLOMON MUINGI
The Taita Taveta government has stepped up plans to sensitise the community and register more people with bleeding disorders to the National Health Insurance Fund.
The devolved unit further seeks to fight the stigma associated with haemophilia and sickle cell disease and ensure that patients receive regular check-ups and treatment.
Governor Andrew Mwadime’s wife Sabina Mwadime on Saturday said that the health department has committed to strengthening enrollment of people with the disease to the insurance scheme.
Speaking during the World Haemophilia Day at Moi County Referral Hospital (MCRH) in Voi, she said, many patients are not registered hence missing the much-needed medical attention.
“This is in alignment with this year’s theme which advocates for better treatment and improving access to haemophiliacs and other bleeders,” Sabina said.
She said people living with haemophilia face challenges such as access to affordable medication and stigma from their communities as a result of poor awareness of the disorder.
MCRH Medical Superintendent Dr Shem Jeremiah noted that community awareness would help reach more haemophilia patients thus easing the disease burden in the county.
“Very few people know about the disorder and that has been noted as a major challenge in accessing treatment and support. We are targeting to enroll more people and reduce the burden,” Dr Shem said.
Taita Taveta, he said, has 18 haemophilia patients, the highest in the Coast region. Kenya has between 950 registered haemophilia patients out of an expected 5,000 cases.
Haemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder when the blood does not clot as it should.
It results from mutations in the genes that code for proteins necessary for normal blood clotting, factor VIII (haemophilia A) and factor IX (haemophilia B).
“This disorder in which blood doesn't clot normally hence causing excessive bleeding affects 1 in 10,000 people globally,” Dr Shem said.
“Signs of haemophilia include bruising easily, nosebleeds, and blood in urine or stool."
Haemophiliac Kamau Mwangi pointed out that patients are faced with the challenges of costly medication hence they are heavily dependent on donors to supply them with medication.
He reiterated the need for intense awareness to debunk the myths associated with the rare disorder.
“For lack of awareness, many communities assume that it is witchcraft or a curse. Consequently, patients have continued to suffer from stigma,” he said.
He asked the government to put key attention to haemophilia patients who are living with disabilities, noting that they rarely access medication.