The Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation (FOSCELL) has launched an awareness campaign aimed at educating Ghanaians, especially young people, on the importance of knowing their genotype to help reduce the number of children born with sickle cell disease.
The campaign formed part of activities marking the climax of World Sickle Cell Day on June 19, under the theme: “Know Your Genotype: Smart Choice Today, Healthy Ghana Tomorrow.”
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Executive Director of FOSCELL, Emos Andor, said the initiative seeks to promote early education on sickle cell disease as part of efforts to secure a healthier future for Ghana.
According to him, available reports from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service indicate that between 18,000 and 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Ghana every year.
He said the foundation is adopting a “Catch Them Young” approach by targeting young people with education and awareness so they can make informed decisions about marriage and childbirth.
“We believe that when these young adults and children understand sickle cell disease, in the future the number of people giving birth to children with sickle cell will reduce,” Mr Andor said.
He explained that many sickle cell warriors and parents of children living with the condition often attribute their situation to a lack of knowledge about genotypes before starting families.
“Most of them will tell you that it was out of ignorance, and we do not want that ignorance to continue causing difficulties in people’s lives,” he added.
Mr Andor noted that people living with sickle cell disease can lead productive lives but require proper care, medication, and support.
He, however, expressed concern about the high cost of managing complications associated with the disease, including kidney problems, liver conditions, stroke, and other health challenges.
He said medications such as hydroxyurea and folic acid, which are commonly used in managing sickle cell disease, can be expensive, creating additional pressure on patients and their families.
The FOSCELL Executive Director called for stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and Ghana Health Service to improve awareness and support systems for people living with sickle cell disease.
He explained that although some people have called for sickle cell treatment to be covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the cost of managing severe complications remains a major challenge.
“Imagine someone living with kidney failure, stroke, or avascular necrosis, where the bone is affected and surgery is required. NHIS cannot take all these bills,” he said.
Mr Andor revealed that some medical procedures related to sickle cell complications could cost as much as GH¢125,000 for one hip replacement, highlighting the financial burden faced by affected families.
He urged young people preparing for marriage to prioritise genotype testing and make informed decisions.
“Know your person’s genotype. If you do not care, just walk away. It is better than bringing forth a child and later realising the decision has caused a lifetime of challenges,” he advised.
He stressed that the goal of the foundation’s campaign is prevention through education, adding that awareness remains one of the strongest tools in reducing the impact of sickle cell disease in Ghana.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Isaac Justice Bediako
