Kenya pushes universal infant screening as 14,000 children born with sickle cell disease yearly
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 1-Kenya is stepping up efforts to detect sickle cell disease in infants as the government seeks to close gaps in diagnosis and treatment for an estimated 250,000…..
✨ Key Highlights
Kenya is intensifying efforts to implement universal infant screening for sickle cell disease, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment for the estimated 250,000 people living with the condition.
- Approximately 14,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Kenya annually.
- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is spearheading the initiative, emphasizing a national ambition for those with sickle cell disease to "thrive" rather than just survive.
- The government has incorporated sickle cell screening into broader maternal and child health programs and is expanding comprehensive care through various initiatives and training for health workers.
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Kenya Seals Deal with Pfizer to Cut Cancer Drug Prices Sevenfold - September 2026
President William Ruto announced a landmark deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer that will drastically reduce the cost of cancer drugs in Kenya, cutting prices by more than sevenfold. Kenya secured the deal under Pfizer's Accord for a Healthier World programme, expected to cut treatment expenses by over seven times for several types of cancer. Separately, Kenya is intensifying efforts to implement universal infant screening for sickle cell disease, aiming to improve early diagnosis and treatment for the estimated 250,000 people living with the condition. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention was appointed to represent regional health organizations globally on the Joint Task Force on Global Health Architecture Reform.
