Experts in Nairobi to Tackle Hemophilia and Sickle Cell Awareness and Treatment
75 per cent of Kenyan patients remain undiagnosed for Hemophilia
Health experts from across East Africa convened today in Nairobi for a two-day conference focused on hemophilia and other blood disorders like sickle cell disease.
The event, spearheaded by the Kenya Hemophilia Association, aims to address limited awareness and improve treatment access for these often-overlooked conditions.
Kenya Hemophilia Association Chairman, Prof. Karanja Njoroge, emphasized the conference’s importance.
“We’re here today to address a critical need in East Africa: awareness and care for blood disorders. Too often, families and even healthcare providers overlook these conditions, mistaking them for hereditary or traditional issues. Our goal is to break down these barriers by raising awareness, enhancing clinical services, and creating outreach strategies so that families understand help is available,” he stated.
Dr. Elisha Osati from Tanzania stated that East Africans are questioning what more can be done to prevent people from suffering in silence, noting that many healthcare providers may not recognize blood disorders, leaving patients untreated as a result.
Dr. Kibet, a clinician specializing in bleeding disorders, shed light on the challenges of diagnosing hemophilia, noting that 75 per cent of Kenyan patients remain undiagnosed.
“Hemophilia is primarily congenital but can also be acquired later in life. We need to increase our reach, as many patients present with malaria-like symptoms, leading to misdiagnosis,” Dr. Kibet explained.
He also pointed to sickle cell disease as another widespread yet underdiagnosed blood disorder.
The conference aims to promote collaborative solutions to raise awareness, improve diagnostic practices, and develop policies for better treatment access across East Africa.
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