Sickle cell stigma: MoH to focus on community awareness

The Ministry of Health will be focusing on raising awareness in communities as part of the effort to combat sickle cell disease in the country.

The ministry has acknowledged there is a low level of knowledge in the population despite the burden of the genetic disorder being physical, emotional and economic.

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha on Wednesday said through educational campaigns and use of community health promoters and sickle cell champions, the ministry will empower the community with accurate information to enhance screening and foster understanding and empathy.

“The stories of those living with sickle cell disease and their families reveal a daily struggle marked by pain, stigma, and limited access to comprehensive care,” the CS said.

“We are committed to enhancing the capacity of healthcare providers across Kenya to diagnose the condition promptly and provide treatment according to our national guidelines,” she added.

Nakhumicha said by investing in training, the ministry will ensure that more individuals receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate care.According to data, at least 240,000 children in Africa are born each year with sickle cell disease.

In Kenya, it is estimated that 14,000 children are born with the disease annually; 7,000 die before they reach five years.

In the absence of routine newborn screening and appropriate treatment, it is estimated that 50 to 90 percent of those born with the condition die undiagnosed before their 5th birthday in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The disease is common across Kenya with high disease burden pockets in Western, Nyanza and Coastal regions, affecting 17 counties.

However, with migration and intermarriage, the condition is being increasingly reported in other regions of the country.

On Wednesday, the ministry and other partners launched what is dubbed as ‘Sickle Cell Diseases Afya Dhabiti project’, a partnership that seeks to advance Sickle Cell Care in Kenya.

The project seeks to address the challenges faced by individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease in the country.

Sickle Cell Diseases Afya Dhabiti project will be implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Health in partnership with Norvatis for three years.

The implementation partners for the project will be The Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) and The Non-communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCDAK).