Health experts call for collaborative effort to tackle blood related disorders

The East Africa Blood Disorders Leadership Forum took place on October 28th and 29th at the Mercure Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, uniting healthcare leaders and stakeholders from across the region.

Organized by the Kenya Haemophilia Association in partnership with the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, the forum aimed to chart a collaborative path forward for improving care for individuals affected by blood disorders.

 Key discussions focused on enhancing early diagnosis, increasing treatment accessibility, promoting equity in health care, and advancing research for new therapies.

During the inaugural session of the East Africa Blood Disorders Leadership Forum, Mr. Harry Kimutai, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, underscored Kenya’s commitment to integrating blood disorders into the Social Health Insurance Act. He emphasized, “The ongoing financial reforms under this Act specifically prioritize sickle cell disease to alleviate the burden of out-of-pocket expenses.”

Globally, hemophilia affects 1 in every 10,000 individuals. In Kenya, approximately 5,500 people are living with this condition, yet only about 940 are currently receiving care. This treatment gap can largely be attributed to insufficient awareness, limited access to medical services, and inadequate capabilities for detection and management.

To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kenya Hemophilia Association (KHA) and the World Federation of Hemophilia, is actively securing donations of treatment factors for hemophilia patients. “Twelve comprehensive centers dedicated to the care of hemophilia and sickle cell disease have been established across the nation, significantly enhancing the management of affected individuals,” Kimutai noted.

Given the high prevalence of sickle cell disease—especially in the western, coastal, and Nyanza regions—the government has implemented targeted strategies to bolster advocacy and patient care among healthcare workers in these areas.

Dr. Gladwell Gathecha, Head of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) at the Ministry of Health, stated, “Healthcare professionals are undergoing training on hemophilia management to improve service delivery across the counties. Additionally, we have established the Hematological Disease Technical Working Group to assist the Ministry of Health in strategic planning related to blood disorders.”

The forum also revealed a critical gap in blood availability for treatment, with a staggering 75% of individuals in East Africa lacking access to necessary care for blood disorders. Furthermore, the continent faces a significant blood donation crisis; 35 out of 48 African nations collect fewer than 4.6 donations per 1,000 individuals, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold of 10 donors per 1,000 people.

During the forum, Caroline Wangamati, Technical Lead of the Coalition of Blood for Africa, highlighted the essential role of blood in managing health disorders. She stated, “Individuals affected by blood disorders, along with those suffering from various other health conditions, rely heavily on blood donations for their survival. African nations must adopt a proactive approach by prioritizing blood-related initiatives, allocating sufficient funding, and engaging more benefactors to support our cause. We can also enhance our efforts through vigorous advocacy for blood donations and the strategic use of existing resources in their appropriate contexts.”

Dr. Joseph Mulenga, Director of the Zambia National Blood Transfusion Services, shared insights into how advanced technology has transformed medical practices in Zambia, particularly in managing blood banks. He remarked, “The integration of sophisticated technology in Zambia has revolutionized blood bank management, enabling us to serve the entire nation effectively. A dependable pool of blood donors is vital for ensuring the availability of high-quality blood throughout the donation and transfusion processes.”

The forum provided a crucial platform for developing impact strategies, advancing research, and strengthening partnerships to tackle the pressing challenges in blood disorder care.