The rise in cases of sickle cell disease in Kisii County is placing a significant burden on families and the health sector, County Health Executive Ronald Nyakweba has disclosed.

Consequently, the CEC has urged parents and guardians to take their children to health facilities for early screening to detect the disease, allowing for timely treatment and management.

Speaking at an awareness event at Kisii National Polytechnic ahead of World Sickle Cell Day celebrations on June 19, 2025, he challenged residents not to stigmatise children born with genetic disorders and instead support them.

“Four per cent of infants aged below one year have sickle cell disease while 14 per cent have traits of the disease,” Nyakweba said, quoting research done by Afia Dhabiti, a civil society organisation.

He noted the county government has set up satellite clinics at Nyamache and Gucha sub-county hospitals to enhance screening, management of the disease and care of patients at the grassroots.

The CEC noted the facilities will offer comprehensive sickle cell disease services, adding that the county will partner with community health promoters and civil society organisations to create awareness at the grassroots to manage the disease.

He appealed to parents and guardians not to associate the disease with witchcraft, stressing it was a genetic disorder and implored residents to go for early screening, diagnosis, treatment and support.

Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Emily Gumba said the federation has partnered with stakeholders to train healthcare workers and promoters to sensitise the public on the disease to reduce it.

She noted the disease was expensive to treat and manage, and appealed to Kenyans to register with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme to ease the health care burden of the affected families.

Gumba implored Kenyans to know their status to seek treatment if they are sick.

Gumba, flanked by the Federation’s chairperson Prof Constance Tenge and Kisii County cancer and Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs) coordinator Dr David Okinyi said the disease was lifelong and asked Kenyans to donate blood at hospitals to support persons living with sickle cell.