Ghana has announced plans to screen all newborns for sickle cell disease (SCD) as part of a national effort to reduce its impact. Every year, approximately 18,000 babies in the country are born with SCD, a genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin in red blood cells. This initiative is a key part of the government’s strategy to control and prevent the disease.
Currently, only about 5.5% of newborns are screened for SCD, with most diagnoses occurring during emergency visits. The new plan aims to increase early detection and treatment, which is crucial for improving health outcomes for affected children.
Professor Alex Osei-Akoto, Principal Investigator for the Patient-Centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) project, announced the initiative during a media training workshop at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Monday.
Sickle cell disease is a significant public health challenge in Ghana, where between 15,000 and 20,000 babies are born with the condition each year, making up around 2% of all live births. Additionally, about 25% of the population carries the sickle cell trait.
The workshop, attended by journalists, researchers, and healthcare professionals, aimed to raise awareness about SCD and promote early detection, evidence-based treatments, and better public knowledge.
The new national strategy to screen all newborns was strongly supported by workshop participants. They urged the public to join efforts in combating the disease, marking a crucial step toward improving the lives of thousands of Ghanaians affected by SCD.
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