BUNGOMA, Kenya – In a bid to curb the rising number of children born with sickle cell disease (SCD), young couples from regions with a high prevalence of the disease are being urged to undergo testing before marriage.
This call to action was highlighted during a blood drive event held at the Bungoma National Polytechnic on Tuesday.
Rotary Club President Antony Khisa emphasized the importance of knowing one’s rhesus factors and genetic predisposition to sickle cell before deciding to have children.
“If you are unsure whether you produce sickle hemoglobin, you can find out by having your blood tested,” he advised.
He also recommended genetic testing to determine if one carries the gene for sickle hemoglobin, which could potentially be passed on to offspring.
In Western Kenya, the Ministry of Health reports that approximately 4.5pc of children are born with SCD, and 18% carry the sickle cell trait.
These statistics underscore the critical need for pre-marital testing and genetic counseling to prevent the disease’s transmission.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 66pc of the 120 million people with SCD live in Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 75% of children born with the disease.
Globally, around 300,000 children are born with SCD annually, with 240,000 cases in Africa alone.
The blood drive, organized by Rotary International and Rotary District 92112 in collaboration with Bungoma County Referral Hospital, successfully collected 148 pints of blood.
This effort comes at a crucial time when blood banks have been running dangerously low.
“Our blood banks have run dry in recent days, and that is very risky,” said Khisa. “This blood drive is part of a continuous effort by Rotary clubs worldwide to ensure sufficient blood supply for patients, especially those with sickle cell disease.”
Rotarian Rose Waringa from Siaya County urged Kenyans to contribute to alleviating blood shortages by donating blood.
She highlighted the meticulous process of blood donation, ensuring donors’ eligibility and safety.
Jacinta Ochieng’, a sickle cell anemia warrior, shared her personal experience with blood transfusions and expressed her gratitude towards the Rotary blood drives.
“I was born with sickle cell and have been dependent on transfusions often since childhood,” she said. “I applaud the Rotary clubs across the nation and worldwide for this blood donation exercise and a major thank you to the donors who willingly come out to give blood. It goes a long way.”
BUNGOMA, Kenya – In a bid to curb the rising number of children born with sickle cell disease (SCD), young couples from regions with a high prevalence of the disease are being urged to undergo testing before marriage.
This call to action was highlighted during a blood drive event held at the Bungoma National Polytechnic on Tuesday.
Rotary Club President Antony Khisa emphasized the importance of knowing one’s rhesus factors and genetic predisposition to sickle cell before deciding to have children.
“If you are unsure whether you produce sickle hemoglobin, you can find out by having your blood tested,” he advised.
He also recommended genetic testing to determine if one carries the gene for sickle hemoglobin, which could potentially be passed on to offspring.
In Western Kenya, the Ministry of Health reports that approximately 4.5% of children are born with SCD, and 18% carry the sickle cell trait.
These statistics underscore the critical need for pre-marital testing and genetic counseling to prevent the disease’s transmission.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 66% of the 120 million people with SCD live in Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 75% of children born with the disease.
Globally, around 300,000 children are born with SCD annually, with 240,000 cases in Africa alone.
The blood drive, organized by Rotary International and Rotary District 92112 in collaboration with Bungoma County Referral Hospital, successfully collected 148 pints of blood.
This effort comes at a crucial time when blood banks have been running dangerously low.
“Our blood banks have run dry in recent days, and that is very risky,” said Khisa. “This blood drive is part of a continuous effort by Rotary clubs worldwide to ensure sufficient blood supply for patients, especially those with sickle cell disease.”
Rotarian Rose Waringa from Siaya County urged Kenyans to contribute to alleviating blood shortages by donating blood.
She highlighted the meticulous process of blood donation, ensuring donors’ eligibility and safety.
Jacinta Ochieng’, a sickle cell anemia warrior, shared her personal experience with blood transfusions and expressed her gratitude towards the Rotary blood drives.
“I was born with sickle cell and have been dependent on transfusions often since childhood,” she said. “I applaud the Rotary clubs across the nation and worldwide for this blood donation exercise and a major thank you to the donors who willingly come out to give blood. It goes a long way.”
