KISUMU — In a significant healthcare development, the county government of Kisumu has announced a collaboration with Indian investors to establish the first specialist sickle cell hospital in Kenya. This initiative, part of a public-private partnership (PPP), aims to enhance the treatment and management of sickle cell disease (SCD) and related haematological disorders.
According to Kenya News Agency, County Executive for Medical Services, Public Health, and Sanitation, the new facility will be set up at Victoria Hospital in Milimani. It will feature advanced diagnostic and treatment services for sickle cell disease and haemophilia, as well as conduct crucial research into these conditions. “This move is in response to the significant challenge posed by SCD, particularly in regions around Lake Victoria and the coastal areas of Kenya,” said Dr. Ganda.
The hospital plans to offer services such as bone marrow transplants and will become a center for haematological disorders, responding to the high incidence of these conditions in the region. Statistics indicate that in Kenya, approximately 14,000 children are born with SCD annually, with a high mortality rate where 50-90% die before reaching five years old. In Kisumu County alone, out of 20,000 children born each year, 500 succumb to the disease within their first five years.
Dr. Ganda also highlighted ongoing efforts to combat SCD at a local level, including the establishment of a sickle cell clinic and the rollout of infant screening at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). “We have installed an ultra-modern machine for testing Sickle Cell at JOOTRH, which is the first one of its kind in the country,” he added during the Scientific Conference on Sickle Cell Disease and Haemophilia held in Kisumu.
The county’s comprehensive approach also includes educational efforts to inform the community about the hereditary nature of SCD and the importance of early screening. This is part of a broader strategy to develop a full sickle cell program encompassing screening, diagnosis, treatment, and bone marrow transplant services, further detailed by Dr. Ganda.