By Lorraine Anyango

Haemophili and Sickle-cell Inclusion.

The Sickle cell and Haemophilia clinic was opened at Jaramogi Onginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital amidst calls to offer health insurance for warriors living with the two blood disorders.

The occasion was graced by Kisumu County First Lady Mama Dorothy Nyong’o and the Deputy Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth who said that the government has set aside some six billion shillings for health insurance.

He said that registration for people living with disabilities was decentralized to the counties adding that people experiencing disability due to sickle Cell and Haemophilia can take advantage of the window and get registered even for tax exemptions.

Dr. Amoth 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.

Only 26 percent of families who have relatives living with sickle Cell are on NHIF, this has made the disease impart a heavy economic burden to families with loved ones living as warriors.

A sickle cell warrior suffers about 5 episodes of crisis annually each requiring hospitalization for at least ten days. On average 12 visits are made with relatives and friends during the period of hospitalization.

60 percent of patients attending the weekly consultant’s clinic pediatric clinic at JOOTRH have sickle cell, there is yet no continuum of care as one transit from pediatric to adolescent and adulthood.

“Potentially it is estimated that about 634,000 annual productive days losses can be attributed to Sickle Cell, the disease is, therefore, a public health and economic burden.” Dr. Greggory Ganda County Executive Committee Member Nominee for Health and Sanitation said.

Dr. Ganda said that the diseases expose a household to great financial risks and limited access to quality healthcare services. “The burden of the sickle cell has not received the attention ad investment it deserves, there is no comprehensive sickle Cell care initiative that covers awareness creation, primary prevention, premarital/prenatal counseling, surveillance, and research in the county as a whole.” He added.

Mama Dorothy Nyongo called on all and sundry to take up the sickle cell and hemophilia test before settling down in marriage, “This will be putting power back in your hands and allow you to make an informed decision.” she said in the same breath appreciating partners who are working alongside to prevent the two diseases.

The sickle cell federation of Kenya however emphasized that the interventions would not be successful without data. Currently, Kisumu County has no data on the number of people with Haemophilia as well as sickle cell. Both ROCHE LTD and the sickle cell Federation of Kenya committed to working toward this, with support from the National government.

the culmination was the signing of an MOU between the Kenya Haemophilia Association and JOOTRH for the establishment of Hemophilia and sickle cell care clinic which will be used for the management and treatment of the two blood disorders.

The Kenya Haemophilia Association donated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machine, and physiotherapy equipment for the management of joint

They have also undertaken intensive training of Health Care Providers. Sensitization training of over 50 HCP from the 7 sub-counties and a 2-week intensive training of a Doctor, Nurse, and physiotherapist from JOOTRH at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The trained HCP will be able to identify and refer patients for management to JOOTRH hence bringing Haemophilia and SCD care closer. The HPLC and physiotherapy equipment cost KES 4 million, this will allow JOOTRH to provide SCD tests at an affordable rate.

Other partners present during the event included Dr Maree Ephantus from the Ministry of Health Tanzania, Prof C. Tenge of the Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya, Dr. Kibet Shikuku of Kenya Haemophilia Association, Coalition of Blood for Africa presented by H. E. C. Wangamati, Muhimbilia National Hospital, CEO, Dr. Stella Rw of the Haemophilia Society of Tanzania, Sarah from Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, a representative of ROCHE Kenya LTD, Novartis  and the KMTC CEO, Dr. Kelly Oluoch

Kenya has between 950 registered haemophilia patients out of an expected 5,000 and Tanzania has between 150 to 200 registered haemophilia patients out of an expected 5,900 (Kenya’s Population is approximately 50 million and Tanzania’s population is approximately 59 million). According to the Ministry of Health Kenya and Tanzania, it is estimated that 6000 children in Kenya are born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) annually and in Tanzania 11,000 babies are born with sickle cell annually.