In a major step toward tackling one of Africa’s most pressing health challenges, the Ministries of Health of Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire, together with Uganda’s Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) under the Ministry of Health, have signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT).
The agreements mark an unprecedented effort to build coordinated national frameworks for sickle cell disease (SCD) management, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce the continent’s high child mortality rates linked to the condition.
Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 7.74 million people worldwide, with nearly 80% of cases in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 50% and 80% of infants born with the disease in the region die before the age of five, and in some West African countries, it accounts for up to 16% of all under-five deaths.
Despite this burden, investment and coordinated action have long been limited. The new partnerships seek to change that by developing comprehensive national strategies focused on:
• Expanding public awareness to combat stigma and promote early diagnosis.
• Training healthcare workers and equipping facilities with advanced technologies.
• Conducting research to guide national standards of care.
• Embedding SCD management into health systems for long-term sustainability.
• Mobilizing resources to ensure reliable treatment access.
“This is about providing more people the care they deserve,” said Antoinette Gawin, President and CEO of Terumo BCT. “By working side by side with national partners, we can strengthen blood supply, advance sickle cell care and help build resilient health systems.”
Uganda’s JCRC Executive Director, Dr. Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza, called the initiative a “blueprint for action,” while Côte d’Ivoire’s Director General of Health, Professor Mamadou Samba, stressed that the agreements make sickle cell disease “no longer an invisible burden.”
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, underscored the policy priority of strengthening blood supply, describing it as essential for treating sickle cell crises and other critical medical needs.
The MoUs build on Terumo BCT’s growing footprint in Africa since opening its regional office in 2018. With this partnership, the three countries and Terumo BCT have sent a strong signal that sickle cell disease is now a national health priority — and that coordinated frameworks are key to lasting change.
Source:Africa Publicity
