Kenya’s ministry of health, through the Social Health Authority (SHA), will integrate sickle cell disease (SCD) into the national health insurance framework to guarantee access to diagnostics, essential medicines and blood transfusion services to shield affected families against catastrophic health costs.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said that sickle cell disease remains one of the country’s most serious yet under-recognised public health challenges, with an estimated 14,000 children born with the condition every year.

Duale said the government is therefore deliberately elevating SCD as a national health priority requiring coordinated, urgent and adequately resourced interventions.

The cabinet secretary was speaking when he hosted the Chair of Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Disease Organizations (GASCDO) Issa Abrahim Ali, alongside partners from the Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya, for a courtesy visit and bilateral engagement. The meeting marked a key milestone in Kenya’s collective resolve to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with Sickle Cell Disease.

The engagement also reviewed efforts to strengthen early detection through the training of 107,000 Community Health Promoters using standardised SCD modules with a focus on high-burden regions including Nyanza, western and the coast.

In a parallel initiative, the ministry is advancing clinical excellence through the revision of national SCD guidelines, expansion of universal new-born screening and establishment of a National Sickle Cell Disease Registry to support evidence-based policy, planning and research.

While more than 800 healthcare workers have already been trained, the cabinet secretary called for enhanced collaboration with GASCDO in specialised workforce development, mentorship and knowledge exchange. The government also welcomed partnerships to strengthen sustainable supply chains and address recurring shortages of essential medicines, including Hydroxyurea and Penicillin.

Duale further reaffirmed Kenya’s strong interest in hosting the Third Global Sickle Cell Conference in May 2026, noting that the event will provide a vital platform to elevate African perspectives and showcase the strength of South-South cooperation in advancing global SCD care.

Through the partnership with GASCDO, the minister said, Kenya remains committed to building a resilient and sustainable ecosystem of care that upholds equity, dignity and improved long-term health outcomes for people living with Sickle Cell Disease.

The meeting was attended by the Director-General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth; Sickle Cell Federation of Kenya leadership led by Mr James Opere (Chairperson) and Ms. Emily Gumba (CEO); and the Ministry’s Director of Family Health, Dr. Issak Bashir.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Joseph Ng’ang’a