Kisumu: Efforts to tackle the high burden of sickle cell disease in Kenya have received a major boost, following the rollout of a regional programme targeting early diagnosis, improved treatment, and long-term support for affected families.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative, dubbed the SCD KeTan Programme, is a cross-border intervention covering Kenya and Tanzania, with a focus on reducing illness and deaths linked to the inherited blood disorder, which remains one of the leading non-communicable diseases affecting children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Global estimates cited by programme partners indicate that about 7.7 million people are living with sickle cell disease worldwide, with nearly 80 per cent of cases found in sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya alone, approximately 14,000 babies are born with the condition each year, and up to 80 per cent risk dying before their fifth birthday without early diagnosis and proper care.
The three-year programme, running from 2025 to 2028, is supported by Fondation Pierre Fabre and implemented through local partners including the Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya, the Children’s Sickle Cell Foundation, and other community-based organisations. The project has a total budget of about £3 million (approximately Sh450 million), with around £1.3 million (approximately Sh195 million) allocated to activities in Kenya.
Pierre Farbe Foundation General Coordinator for the sickle cell programme in East Africa Abdussalam Poutougnigni said the initiative is designed to address critical gaps in screening, treatment access, and social support. The programme aims to reduce both mortality and morbidity associated with sickle cell disease by expanding diagnostic services, strengthening early detection through newborn screening, and increasing awareness at the community level.
During a training for healthcare workers in Kisumu County, Poutougnigni highlighted that under the programme, thousands of children and adolescents are expected to be screened, while healthcare systems will be strengthened through targeted training of frontline health workers and community health promoters. A key pillar of the intervention is improving access to treatment with the programme targeting to support at least 300 patients with health insurance to ease the cost burden of care, while also promoting the availability of essential medicines such as hydroxyurea through innovative models like revolving fund pharmacies in underserved areas.
Recognising the broader impact of the disease on households, the initiative also integrates socio-economic support, including income-generating activities for affected families, alongside psychosocial care. The model relies on empowering local organisations and building partnerships with government and health facilities to ensure continuity and sustainability beyond the funding cycle.
Emily Gumba, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya, stated that the approach marks a shift towards patient-centred care. She emphasized that many programmes have focused on the clinical aspect, but this one puts patients and families at the centre, including economic empowerment. Ongoing advocacy efforts are aimed at ensuring wider access to treatment and integration of sickle cell services into national health systems.
The Ministry of Health has welcomed the partnership, stating it aligns with national efforts to scale up screening and improve disease management. Dr. Yvette Kisaka, Technical Lead for Sickle Cell Disease under the Division of Cancer and Non-Communicable Diseases, emphasized the programme’s role in strengthening early diagnosis, particularly among newborns, while enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers.
In Kisumu County, the programme has begun strengthening frontline capacity through a two-week intensive training targeting 60 participants, including 30 healthcare providers and 30 community health promoters. The training is expected to enhance early detection, community awareness, and long-term management of the disease. Katito Sub-County Hospital, which runs a specialised sickle cell clinic serving more than 200 patients, is emerging as a key hub for care and follow-up services in the region.
County Director for Public Health Fredrick Oluoch noted that Kisumu continues to record a high disease burden, with neonatal prevalence ranging between 1.5 and 4.5 per cent. The county has already screened more than 40,000 newborns and is scaling up interventions in high-burden areas such as Nyakatch and Seme sub-counties. Through the SCD KeTan Programme, the county has received a specialised Gazelle screening machine, which will be deployed in Nyakatch to boost early diagnosis, with an appeal for an additional machine to be installed in Seme Sub-County to widen coverage.
Nyakatch and Seme sub-counties continue to bear the heaviest burden of sickle cell disease in the area, with screening data showing consistently higher prevalence rates compared to other areas. Oluoch attributed this, in part, to long-standing patterns of intermarriage within closely related communities, which increase the likelihood of both parents carrying the sickle cell trait. He noted the need for targeted interventions and highlighted the burden seen alongside malaria-prone zones around the lake region.
To address this, the county is intensifying advocacy for couple counselling and screening, particularly during premarital and marriage counselling sessions. Oluoch emphasized the importance of expanded awareness and routine testing in significantly reducing new cases over time.
