Ministry of Health/MOH COURTESY
The Ministry of Health has announced plans to establish a National Sickle Cell Disease Registry.
The move is aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment planning, and long-term care for thousands of patients living with the condition across the country.
The proposal emerged during a meeting between Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga and a delegation from Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), led by Vice President Dr Sylvain Lacomble, as Kenya marked World Sickle Cell Day.
According to the Ministry, the discussions focused on strengthening the country’s response to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) through expanded access to early diagnosis, treatment, and sustained care systems.
At the centre of the discussions was the planned establishment of a National Sickle Cell Disease Registry.
The Ministry also identified expanded newborn screening programmes as a key priority, arguing that early diagnosis remains one of the most effective ways to improve survival rates and reduce complications associated with the disease
"Particular attention was given to expanding newborn screening programmes, and advancing the establishment of a National Sickle Cell Disease Registry to support evidence-based planning and better patient outcomes," MoH said in a statement.
Alongside the registry and screening efforts, discussions also explored strengthening healthcare worker capacity and increasing access to essential treatment services to ensure patients receive timely and quality care.
The engagement was held under the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day theme, “Close the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease,” which highlights the need to address disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment.
The Ministry said the goal is to ensure that children born with Sickle Cell Disease, regardless of their location or social background, have equal opportunities to access healthcare and live healthy and productive lives.
Dr Oluga reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with partners to strengthen specialised healthcare services and build a more responsive health system for people affected by Sickle Cell Disease.
He said sustained investment in prevention, early detection, treatment and health workforce development remains essential in improving outcomes for patients and their families.
The Principal Secretary further noted that specialised care for chronic conditions such as Sickle Cell Disease forms part of the broader agenda to strengthen healthcare delivery and advance Universal Health Coverage.
The Ministry said collaboration with development and healthcare partners will continue as Kenya works to improve disease management systems and expand access to specialised treatment services.
The proposed registry forms part of wider efforts to ensure no Kenyan living with Sickle Cell Disease is left behind and that health interventions are guided by reliable data and patient needs.
