•The Lobby Cites Alarming Mortality Rates and Systemic Neglect in Healthcare Planning
A coalition of advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals living with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has petitioned the Kisumu County Assembly to declare the condition a public health emergency, citing alarming mortality rates and systemic neglect in healthcare planning.
The petition, delivered this week to the County Assembly, outlines an urgent appeal for the integration of SCD management into Kisumu’s health policy framework and annual development agenda.
Stakeholders described SCD as a “silent killer” that continues to claim the lives of children and young adults across the county despite being a preventable and manageable condition with timely and adequate intervention.
Grim Statistics Reveal Urgency
Citing recent data, the petitioners reported that approximately 2% of children born in Kisumu County are affected by SCD, while 21% carry the sickle cell trait.
A study conducted at Kisumu County Referral Hospital (KCRH) revealed a 13.9% prevalence of the trait among newborns, further underscoring the widespread reach of the condition.
Even more alarming, the data indicates that nearly half of the estimated 480 children born with SCD annually in the county do not live to see their fifth birthday.
Many of these children suffer recurrent, painful health crises that require emergency care, which is often unavailable in public health facilities within the county.
Care Across County Lines
The petitioners lamented that due to inadequate local care, many families are compelled to travel to neighboring counties such as Homa Bay and Vihiga to access treatment.
These counties, they noted, have adopted better SCD management frameworks, offering a potential blueprint that Kisumu could emulate.
“We are forced to cross county lines to save our children’s lives. This is not just a failure of policy; it is a failure of humanity,” the petition reads in part.
Demands for Policy Reform and Infrastructure
Among the coalition’s key demands is the establishment of at least two specialized treatment centers for Sickle Cell Disease within Kisumu County.
They also called for the implementation of universal newborn screening programs to enable early diagnosis and timely intervention.
In addition, the petition calls for the county to provide free or subsidized genetic counseling services for families and ensure a consistent supply of critical medications such as Hydroxyurea, Voxelotor, and Crizanlizumab across all Level 3 and above health facilities.
The petition also emphasizes the need for non-clinical interventions, including school-based awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, psychosocial support services, and vocational training programs for adult patients who often face social and professional discrimination due to their condition.
Emergency Response and Referral Gaps
A significant portion of the petition focuses on the lack of emergency response infrastructure tailored to SCD crises, such as acute chest syndrome and stroke.
Petitioners decried the absence of structured referral pathways and well-equipped ambulatory services, warning that even minor delays during medical emergencies can result in fatalities.
“Every minute counts during a sickle cell crisis. The lack of a coordinated emergency response system is costing lives unnecessarily,” the petition notes.
Budget Neglect and Political Will
While acknowledging improvements in general healthcare services in Kisumu over recent years, the coalition criticized the persistent exclusion of SCD in budget allocations and policy formulation.
They urged the Kisumu County Assembly to incorporate their recommendations into the 2025/2026 Annual Development Plan, warning that failure to act decisively would leave them with no choice but to resort to peaceful civic action to demand accountability.
Copies Sent to Top Leadership
In addition to the County Assembly, the petition has been submitted to Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, the Chief Officer for Health, and the Sickle Cell Advocacy Group.
The coalition’s message was clear: Kisumu County must act now, or risk condemning yet another generation of children and families to unnecessary suffering and loss due to a preventable and manageable condition.
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