Sickle Cell NGO organises screening exercise for schoolchildren at Ablekuma
The Ghana Foundation for Sickle Gene Action (GFSGA), in collaboration with the Ablekuma North Health Directorate, has screened over 150 basic school children in Accra for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) for free.
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The health screening exercise for beneficiaries, drawn from the Saleria 1 and 2 Basic Schools in the Ablekuma North District in Accra, formed part of activities by the organisation to step up its advocacy and awareness creation programme about SCD.
It was also to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day 2024.
SCD is an inherited blood disease that affects heamoglobin. Persons living with SCD experience pain, among other health conditions, but with the intervention of modern treatment such individuals are able to live healthy lives.
Studies indicate that in Ghana, about 15,000 babies out of all babies born annually are diagnosed with SCD, and early detection reduces mortality.
Prior to the screening exercise, the GFSGA held an educational session to explain the SCD condition to both pupils and staff.
The National Nurse Coordinator for Newborn Screening Programme for SCD for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana, Mary Lamptey, who led the awareness session said it was important for everyone to know their status , stressing the need for particularly parents to know the status of their newborn babies, as that would help in the effective management of their condition right from that early age.
She expressed concern about the inadequate screening centres in the country and appealed to the government to expand the newborn screening programme for SCD to help save more lives.
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“There were 24 screening sites under the national programme as of December 2022. However, currently, we have only three sites functioning - Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military
Hospital and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, all in Accra, ” Mrs Lamptey, who is also an Advisory Board Member of the foundation stated.
Awareness
The Executive Director for the GFSGA, Victoria Awo Twumasi, explaining the purpose of the activity said “19th June every year is marked as World Sickle Cell Day to celebrate SCD Warriors for their efforts in fighting their condition.
Again on this day, the SCD community undertakes several activities to inform and educate people and nations about SCD and the need to put in more efforts to reduce the mortality rate associated with it.”
Ms Twumasi mentioned that “apart from the education and free health screening exercise here today, Ghana Foundation for Sickle Gene Action has plans to sponsor 100 patients for one year with regard to their medical bills, and we hope to expand this in future.”
Hope
She stated that this year’s theme for the SCD Day, “ Hope Through Progress, Advancing Care Globally, “was a reminder that there is hope for sickle cell warriors as the world is advancing in its research to find better ways to fight SCD.
“There is treatment for SCD, and we are grateful to the government of Ghana for the efforts in providing Hydroxyurea through the National Health Insurance Scheme,” she stated, and appealed to the government to further implement policies that would improve the healthcare of SCD patients in the country.
More education
The Health Director at Ablekuma North Municipality, Dr Valeria Osei Tutu, expressed her excitement about the activity and called for more of such programmes in the future.
The Director of Education for Ablekuma North, Perry Ofori, commended the management of Ghana Foundation for Sickle Gene Action and encouraged other health organisations to emulate the example by creating more opportunities to create awareness and educate the general public on critical health issues.