• The Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya has emphasized that the interventions would not be successful without data.
• Already, the government is implementing measures to improve research in health as an important area towards finding solutions to challenges facing the sector
Image: HANDOUT
Around 5,000 Kenyans suffer from a blood disorder called hemophilia. Only 20 per cent of those have been diagnosed and on treatment. Meanwhile around 150,000 Kenyans suffer from sickle cell disease and many often pass away due to the inability to pay for treatment.
In 2018, the government of Kenya took steps to identify a strategy to address the lack of public health programmes and improve sickle cell disease treatment.
Haemophilia was suggested as a model and potential source of synergies. The two disease areas face similar challenges: limited resources, lack of capacity, delayed diagnosis and unavailability of treatment products.
The Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya has emphasized that the interventions would not be successful without data.
Already, the government is implementing measures to improve research in health as an important area towards finding solutions to challenges facing the sector, including the high cost of haemophilia treatment and sickle cell anemia.
To tackle the rising cases of the disease, the Nairobi West Hospital has built the first-ever bone marrow transplant unit in the country, making Kenya a potential medical tourist destination in the region. The facility comes as a relief to individuals battling blood disorders because this will provide cure to a devastating and debilitating diseases.
The Nairobi West Hospital recently performed Kenya's first Bone Marrow Transplant treatment.
According to Prof. Andrew Kanyi, the hospital's chief medical officer, the procedure was successfully performed on a patient with multiple myeloma.
He explained that the unit has opened access to quality and affordable specialized healthcare in the country, which has been a major concern for patients who have had to travel abroad for advanced medical procedures.
Bone marrow transplant is a special therapy that has been used successfully to treat diseases such as hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell disease), aplastic anaemia, blood cancer (leukemia), lymphomas, immune deficiency disorders, and some solid tumor cancers since 1963.
Kenya Haemophilia Association and Jaramogi Onginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a Hemophilia and sickle cell care clinic which will be used for the management and treatment of the two blood disorders.
The occasion was graced by Mama Dorothy Nyong’o and acting director general for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, who said the government has set aside some Sh6 billion shillings for health insurance.
Dr Amoth called on the combined effort to tackle the disease and support those in dire need.
He added that already there are guidelines for the management of sickle Cell and haemophilia diseases that have been developed noting that the government will supply commodities and supplies to manage the two conditions.
Faith Mukundi is a health coach expert and a proprietor of Little Cubs baby shop