Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), The Nairobi West Hospital and other partners, have spearheaded a sickle cell awareness and screening drive in Kisumu as part of the national month-long campaign on the disease.
The initiative that brought together health workers, patients, community groups and partners such as Tumaini Sickle Cell Organization, Pharmplus and the Kenya Red Cross Society, sought to demystify the condition and highlight new treatment options that are now available in Kenya.
JOOTRH Acting CEO Joshua Ochieng’ underscored the need for people to know their genotype, noting that many Kenyans still do not undergo basic screening.
“Most of the people don’t know their genotype, so first of all, we are creating awareness. Sickle cell is strenuous, tedious and draining. We are doing screenings which are being conducted by Tumaini Sickle Cell Organization, alongside blood pressure and haemoglobin checks with the support of partners like Pharmplus and the Red Cross,” Ochieng’ said.
The Nairobi West Hospital Medical Director, Dr Kibet Shikuku, highlighted strides in treatment, citing red blood cell exchange therapy and bone marrow transplant as life-saving interventions that are now within reach locally.
“We hope that through this partnership we are able to scale down care and bring it closer to Kenyans that require it. This initiative will go a long way in reaching out to more patients, detecting the disease early and making it more bearable. Together we can save lives that would have otherwise been lost,” Dr Shikuku said.
Kisumu County carries one of the highest burdens of sickle cell disease in Kenya, with prevalence estimates of up to 4% among newborns and nearly one in five carrying the sickle trait.
The introduction of red blood cell exchange therapy at JOOTRH, with technical support from The Nairobi West Hospital, is expected to ease this burden by rapidly lowering levels of sickled haemoglobin, preventing complications and improving quality of life.
Organisers of the sickle cell awareness campaign urged Kenyans to champion testing and fundraising efforts to ensure sustainability.