Bungoma County is stepping up efforts to tackle the growing burden of sickle cell disease, with health experts urging couples to undergo screening and understand their hemoglobin genotype status to assess the risk of having children with the inherited blood disorder.
The call comes as the county grapples with approximately 1,600 reported sickle cell cases, prompting renewed calls for increased investment in prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and emergency care for patients living with the condition.
Sickle cell warriors are also pushing for improved access to essential medicines and better integration of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) into county health planning and budgetary allocations.
Speaking to the press in Bungoma after a meeting involving sickle cell warriors, caregivers and other stakeholders, Absolom Simiyu, chairperson of the Bungoma Non-Communicable Disease Advocacy Chapter, said the organization was established to raise awareness about NCDs and advocate for the rights of affected patients.
Simiyu said the meeting brought together health experts, members of the county health technical working group and members of the Bungoma County Assembly to discuss challenges facing patients and explore ways of securing adequate resources for the prevention and management of NCDs.
“We had a fruitful meeting with stakeholders and discussed how sickle cell warriors can access advanced medication, including at Level three health facilities,” Simiyu said.
He noted that access to appropriate treatment remained a major concern for patients, particularly those who require regular medication and specialized care to manage complications associated with sickle cell disease.
Simiyu called for stronger government commitment to addressing the needs of people living with NCDs, warning that gaps in policies, legislation and their implementation continued to undermine efforts to improve patient outcomes.
He said limited attention from both the national and county governments towards the prevention and control of NCDs remained a major challenge, alongside difficulties accessing emergency and long-term healthcare services.
Patients living with sickle cell disease can experience severe pain episodes, anaemia, infections and other potentially life-threatening complications, making timely diagnosis, access to appropriate medication and emergency treatment essential.
Simiyu urged the county health department to prioritise NCDs in the budget-making process, arguing that adequate financing would strengthen service delivery and ease the burden on patients and their caregivers.
He said the engagement provided an opportunity for patients and advocacy groups to present their concerns directly to policymakers and health officials, with the aim of finding practical solutions to persistent gaps in healthcare provision.
John Werembe, the county’s deputy NCD coordinator, acknowledged that Bungoma continued to record a significant number of sickle cell cases and urged couples planning to marry or have children to undergo screening and understand their genetic status.
Werembe said the county had recorded approximately 1,600 sickle cell cases, underscoring the need to strengthen public awareness, early diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment.
He said health facilities across the county had been making efforts to expand screening for non-communicable diseases, but called for greater public participation to ensure people knew their health status and sought medical advice when necessary.
Werembe encouraged couples to seek screening and genetic counselling before making reproductive decisions, noting that understanding their hemoglobin genotypes could help them assess the likelihood of having children with sickle cell disease.
He noted that sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that occurs when a child inherits disease-causing hemoglobin variants from both parents.
Joan Kirong, a member of the Bungoma County Assembly’s Health and Sanitation Committee, affirmed the assembly’s commitment to supporting efforts to address NCDs through appropriate resource allocation.
Kirong said sustained investment in the health sector was necessary to improve access to essential medicines, strengthen healthcare infrastructure and ensure patients received timely treatment.
