Consequently, in collaboration with its partners, it is prioritising interventions to close the gaps that have hindered the effective and efficient management of the condition in Ghana.

The prioritised initiatives include the scaling up of newborn screening and the integration of sickle cell testing into all child welfare clinics, establishing a national standard of care and training healthcare workers across all levels to deliver consistent, quality SCD services, as well as leveraging the National Health Insurance coverage and partnerships to ensure financial protection for persons living with SCD.

Also, the MoH intends to expand genetic and wellness counselling, counselling, particularly premarital and pre-conception services, through public and faith-based health facilities.

The Director, Technical Coordination of the MoH, Dr Hafiz Adam Taher, gave this update when he addressed a SCD stakeholders conference organised by an international not-for-profit organisation, the Sickle Gene International Foundation (SGIF), in Accra.

The conference was held to discuss the gaps in SCD management that were undermining effective control of the condition.

The gathering, among other things, featured panel discussions with healthcare professionals, SCD warriors and caregivers, NGOs, advocates and government representatives.

Burden

Dr Taher said for far too long, SCD was viewed narrowly as a clinical problem, despite statistics showing that about two per cent of newborns were affected and many more born with the sickle cell trait.

“Sickle Cell disease remains one of the most prevalent inherited blood disorders in Ghana. Each year, it is estimated that about two per cent of newborns are affected, with many more born with the sickle cell trait.

“Unfortunately, for far too long, SCD was viewed narrowly as a clinical problem.

Today, we recognise it as a public health and developmental challenge that requires a coordinated, multisectoral response—rooted in prevention, early detection and quality care,” he stated. 

The Technical Director of the MoH said, to help improve the situation, the ministry was also rolling out a five-year roadmap with five main objectives, developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, to achieve the desired results.

Dr Taher mentioned the five main objectives to include improving awareness and health education, through nationwide campaigns, school-based education and community engagement.

Also, as part of the intervention, the MoH, with the collaboration of stakeholders, plans to strengthen screening and diagnostics systems, as well as establish a robust data and research system by integrating SCD data into the national health information system and creating a national Sickle Cell Registry.

In addition, the MoH will promote partnerships and sustainable financing by mobilising government, private sector and international support to implement the strategy effectively, indicating that the total estimated cost of implementing the five-year roadmap was GH¢175million.

Improving facilities

The Administrator of Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahamacare) Secretariat, Obuobia Darko-Opoku, in a brief remark, said the secretariat was committed to ensuring that President John Mahama’s vision of improving healthcare delivery was achieved.

She said while the SCD management might not be directly under the initiative she was spearheading, she believed the provision of improved facilities would still inure to the benefit of SCD management.

Purpose

The Chairperson of the SGIF, Dr Jacqueline Owusu McKenzie, said the stakeholders' engagement had become necessary because five years after the death of the world-renowned SCD specialist and advocate, Professor Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, very little had been done to steadily improve the initiatives he pushed for to improve the situation in SCD management.

Dr McKenzie, who is the Co-Lead of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Ghana Global Health Partnership, said as a strong supporter of the Sickle Cell Foundation founded by the late Prof. Ohene-Frempong, it was important to review what had been done and remained to be done to improve the advocacy and interventions.

“It is important to know what is happening so we have a fair idea about how to seek support to improve the interventions,” she stated.