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18,000 babies are born annually with sickle cell disease in Ghana – Dr Kwarley Asare

Ghana is grappling with a growing public health burden as nearly 18,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease (SCD) each year—representing 2% of all births—making it one of the leading inherited disorders in the country.

Speaking at this year’s World Sickle Cell Day celebration at the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (GICG), Dr Eugenia Vicky Naa Kwarley Asare, a Senior Specialist Haematologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, warned that the alarming statistics are a stark reminder of the urgent need for national action, investment in healthcare, and widespread public education.

“One in three Ghanaians carries either the HbS or HbC gene,” Dr Asare revealed. “These numbers are not just statistics — they represent lives, families, and futures that must be protected.”
Sickle cell disease is a chronic blood disorder caused by inherited mutations in haemoglobin genes.

In its most severe form—Sickle Cell Anaemia—patients suffer debilitating pain, organ damage, and a heightened risk of early mortality. Despite this, access to quality care remains uneven across the country.

Dr Asare’s call for greater support came as the GICG marked 50 years of providing specialist care, research, and education in sickle cell management. Established in 1974 by the late Prof. Felix Konotey-Ahulu, the institute has become the national referral centre for adolescents and adults living with SCD, with over 27,000 patients registered and more than 10,000 patient visits annually.

“The disease burden is enormous, yet the support systems remain fragile,” Dr Asare said. “Our goal is to ensure that no patient is left behind.”

The GICG’s role has expanded over the years to include specialised services such as hydroxyurea clinics, leg ulcer treatment, emergency care, and management of age-related complications, including renal failure. However, Dr Asare acknowledged that more robust decentralisation is needed to improve nationwide access to care.

Despite major strides in clinical research and partnerships with local and international institutions, sickle cell disease continues to be under-prioritised in public health policy. Experts believe many cases remain undiagnosed, particularly in rural areas.

Dr Asare and her colleagues are advocating for early screening, improved drug access, and community education to address the stigma and myths surrounding the disease. They also highlighted the urgent need to strengthen newborn screening programmes and provide sustained support for affected families.

“World Sickle Cell Day is more than a day of reflection—it’s a call to act boldly, to commit resources, and to bring hope to every child born with this condition,” Dr Asare urged. “The time to scale up is now.”

With sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 80% of global SCD births, Ghana’s experience underscores a continental challenge. Stakeholders are now calling on government, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate in building resilient systems that offer quality and equitable care to all Ghanaians living with sickle cell disease.

Read Also: World Sickle Cell Day: Dr Asare urges collective action as GICG marks 50 years of sickle cell care

World Sickle Cell Day: Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics urges collective action as it marks 50 years of sickle cell care

The Director of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (GICG), Dr. Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kuma, has issued a clarion call for collective national and global action to support individuals living with sickle cell disease, as Ghana marked both World Sickle Cell Day and 50 years of dedicated care at the GICG.

Speaking at a commemorative event held at the institute within Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Kuma highlighted the pressing burden of sickle cell disease in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa, emphasising the urgent need for awareness, investment, and compassion.

“Today, the world pauses to recognise and salute the courage of over 8 million people living with sickle cell disease — and the resilience of the caregivers who walk beside them every day,” she said. “It is not just a day for awareness — it is a call to action.”

Ghana records around 18,000 new cases of sickle cell disease each year, with approximately 2% of newborns diagnosed and over half of them affected by the most severe form, Sickle Cell Anaemia. One in every three Ghanaians carries the HbS and/or HbC gene. Dr Kuma stressed that these figures are not mere statistics but a human reality that calls for sustained national attention and support.

This year’s observance was particularly symbolic, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the GICG. Dr Kuma paid glowing tribute to the institute’s founder, the late Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu, a pioneer in sickle cell care in Africa, who passed away just last month.

“Fifty years ago, a visionary, the late Professor Felix Konotey-Ahulu, founded this institute with one dream — that people with sickle cell disease in Ghana and across Africa could live with dignity, receive expert care, and experience hope,” she said.

Over the past five decades, the GICG has served more than 27,000 patients, contributed to groundbreaking research, and trained generations of healthcare professionals, earning its place as a beacon of excellence and compassion.

A minute’s silence was observed in honour of Professor Konotey-Ahulu, whose legacy, Dr Kuma noted, lives on “in every patient we serve, every life we save, every step forward we take.”

Dr Kuma closed her address with a strong appeal to all stakeholders to use the day not only to celebrate but to recommit to the cause.

“Let us raise our voices, shine the light on sickle cell disease, and work together to ensure that those living with it are not left behind,” she urged. “Together, we can create a future of care, compassion, and cure.”

More on Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic hemolytic disorder caused by a point mutation at position six of the beta-globin gene. In SCD, individuals inherit two abnormal haemoglobin genes, one of which must be haemoglobin S. Due to the inheritance of an abnormal haemoglobin, individuals with SCD—ranging from newborns to adults—face an increased risk of various complications and require multidisciplinary care.

Since the 1930s, a diverse group of individuals has initiated and advanced pediatric and adult SCD care at KBTH. Initially, care for adolescents and adults with SCD was provided in the medical block at KBTH, despite facing challenges.

The late Prof. Felix I.D. Konotey-Ahulu recognized these challenges and fought hard for individuals with genetic disorders to have their own clinic.

About GICG

In 1974, the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (GICG) was established as a subvented organisation under the Ministry of Health, with the late Prof. Felix I.D. Konotey-Ahulu appointed as the first Director, and the late Dr. Michael Baddoo serving as the Director of Medical Services. When the GICG was initially founded, it received support from the VALCO Fund and the Ministry of Health, while the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provided generous research funding, enabling the GICG to focus on service, education, and research.

In 1976, Brigadier Odartey-Wellington, the Commissioner of Health, officially commissioned the GICG, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of clinical genetics in Ghana.

After its establishment, the GICG primarily operated on an outpatient basis. Patients presenting with acute complications were admitted to the second floor of the medical block.

In the 1990s, daycare and emergency services were introduced, with outpatient and daycare services in an open area of the current outpatient department. The clinic had only a few beds and benches with mattresses to accommodate patients. Despite being understaffed and facing a high patient load, we persevered.

In the 2000s, various renovations were carried out by NGOs, institutions (both foreign and local), and SCD patient support groups. These renovations included a reception area, a general outpatient department, a new roof, wards with reclining beds for patients, and laboratory equipment.

To support its mission of providing better health management to all individuals living with SCD, GICG receives referrals from across Ghana, primarily from the southern region. Initially, GICG had a pediatric unit within the Department of Child Health at KBTH, along with an adolescent and adult unit.

All individuals diagnosed with SCD, from children to adults, were registered in the GICG registry. In the early 2010s, the pediatric SCD clinic separated from the adolescent and adult SCD clinic at GICG and became one of the specialized clinics under the Department of Child Health at KBTH.

Currently, GICG provides clinical services for adolescents (≥age 13 years) and adults, which include daily (Monday to Friday) general outpatient clinics, special clinics for disease-modifying drugs such as hydroxyurea, chronic leg ulcer treatment, and care for geriatric and renal complications. Daycare/emergency services are also available on weekdays, alongside general laboratory, public health, and pharmacy services managed by the Korle Bu Polyclinic Pharmacy. The institute has over 27,000 registered patients, with approximately 3,000 patients and 10,000 patient visits annually. The core functions of the Institute include patient care, patient/public education, and clinical research.

The Past and Present Directors of the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics include
Name	Year(s)
Prof. Felix I.D. Konotey-Ahulu	1974 – 1979
Dr. Akurang Dankwa	1979 – 1980
Prof. Alexander Bruce-Tagoe	1980 – 1984
Prof. Rev. George Ankrah-Badu	1984 – 1988, 1990 -1994
Prof. Joseph Kpakpo Acquaye	1988 – 1990, 1994 – 2002
Prof. Ivy Ekem	2002 – 2014
Prof. Edeghonghon O. Olayemi	2014 – 2017
Prof. Yvonne Akotoa Dei-Adomakoh	2017 – 2022
Dr Amma Anima Benneh-Akwasi Kuma	2022 – present

Other doctors who have sacrificed for the care of individuals with SCD include the late Dr. Gabriel G. Ampomah Twumasi and Dr. Fredericka Sey.

The past and current staff and patients of GICG have also played an instrumental role in caring for our patients and in groundbreaking global clinical trials for SCD, placing the institute on the world map for SCD.

FoSCel hosts national forum on Sickle Cell at UEW: Calls for unity, awareness and policy action

The Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation (FoSCel) has held a national forum uniting stakeholders from across health, education, and civil society in a call to address Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana.

Organised to mark World Sickle Cell Day, the event held at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), and themed “Know Your Genotype, Secure the Future”, brought together students, health professionals, traditional leaders, government representatives, and NGOs for a national dialogue on one of Ghana’s most pressing yet under-discussed health challenges.

Founder of FoSCel, journalist and advocate Amos Andoh (Akokoa Mpaninsem), shared his own experience of living with Sickle Cell Disease, saying “This is more than a project for me – it is a mission born of pain but driven by purpose.”

He stressed the urgent need for education, revealing that a significant portion of the Ghanaian population remains unaware of basic facts about the disease, including genotype compatibility and transmission.

In his keynote address, guest speaker Dr Anyemedu Asare Fredovich, an orthopaedic surgeon and former Acting Medical Director of the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, described the global death toll from Sickle Cell as “a daily aviation disaster we are not talking about.”

Dr Fredovich revealed startling national statistics, noting that 2% of all babies born in Ghana each year — about 15,000 to 20,000 infants — have Sickle Cell Disease, while 15% to 30% of the population are genetic carriers.

He warned that a lack of public awareness around genotype compatibility continues to drive the crisis.

“We’re losing lives unnecessarily because people simply do not know their genotype or what it means for their future families,” he said, commending FoSCel for stepping into a leadership role and expressing hope that the foundation becomes the “linchpin” of a more coordinated, long-term national response.

The forum featured panel discussions on the psychological, social, and economic impact of Sickle Cell Disease, with contributions from the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, the university faculty, and traditional councils.

The sessions explored treatment barriers, stigma, and strategies to improve support systems for affected families.

Student voices were particularly prominent, with youth leaders pledging to intensify peer education campaigns, ensuring their networks embrace early genotype testing and informed reproductive choices.

“This generation can break the cycle, but we must be informed first,” one student leader remarked during an open forum session.

A symbolic candle-lighting ceremony was held in memory of lives lost to SCD, capping off a day of reflection, advocacy, and renewed commitment.

FoSCel announced it would expand its national outreach campaign, with upcoming forums scheduled at major universities including the University of Ghana, KNUST, UCC, and UDS.

Health Accounting Staff Association agitates over delayed negotiations

Members of the Health Accounting Staff Association of Ghana (HASAG) are agitating to embark on an industrial action over their long-stalled negotiations of their conditions of service

According to the association, the negotiations have stalled for over eight months due to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission’s failure to respond to multiple requests from HASAG to resume negotiations that were first initiated in November 2023.

The leadership of the association is therefore demanding the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) to engage HASAG on Monday June 23, 2025, to resume and conclude negotiations, without which the association would activate its options, including embarking on an industrial action

According to HASAG, the key sticking point remains the financial components of the agreement, which were postponed for later discussion during the Standing Negotiating Committee (SNC) meetings last year.

Per Article 13(i) and (ii) of the SNC Rules, such negotiations are mandated to conclude within two months of commencement, with a possible two-week extension if unresolved issues remain. However, HASAG asserts that this timeline has long been breached, despite numerous letters and formal appeals to the Commission.

In its recent letter to FWSC, dated June 18, 2025, HASAG expressed deep frustration with the FWSC’s apparent reluctance to set a firm date for final talks.

“This continued delay runs counter to the principles of good faith negotiations,” said the letter signed by HASAG’s National President, Emmanuel Dennis Kofi Amoah, warning that the unresolved issues are causing “strong agitations and unrest” among its members.

In making the demand for the urgent meeting on Monday, the letter indicted that failure by the FWSC to meet this deadline would leave the Association with no choice but to pursue “lawful steps” under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), potentially including industrial action.

The Association has also accused the FWSC of deliberate sabotage, claiming the delay is a calculated attempt to “frustrate and dismember” the union. HASAG noted with concern that some members have already defected to the Health Services Workers’ Union (HSWU), which began its negotiations later after that of HASAG, but has since concluded negotiations and enjoying the financial benefits.

The Association consequently reported the delay and the Commission’s unresponsiveness to the National Labour Commission last month after FWSC allegedly ignored several formal requests. In its latest communication, HASAG called on the Commission and relevant ministries, including Finance, Health, and Employment, to intervene urgently to avert disruption in the public health financial management sector.

Government urged to extend validation for payment of trainee nurses and midwives’ allowances

The Union of Trainee Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UTNMG) has pleaded with the government through the Ministry of Health to extend the validation exercise for the payments of health trainee allowances.

The Union explains that the June 20, 2025 deadline for the exercise was too limited hence trainees would not be able to acquire and provide all the required documents and details.

The recent directive requires trainees to provide SSNIT numbers, bank account numbers and Ghana Card details within the timeframe.

“The Union of Trainee Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UTNMG) humbly appeals to the government, through the Ministry of Health, to reconsider the validation exercise for trainee allowances”, stated a communique signed by National UTNMG President, Agbeti Immortal and UTNMG General Secretary, Alavi Robert.

The Union argued that the majority of the beneficiaries of the trainee allowances do not have the requested details, especially the SSNIT number and hence need more time to apply and acquire it to tender for the registration.

“The old system only required E-switch accounts. Many students lack the required documents such as Ghana Card, SSNT number and Bank account”, it stated.

The leadership of the trainee nurses and midwives also appealed to the government to include the 2024 batch of trainees in the verification exercise. They are currently owed 15 months’ allowance.

“This 2024 batch is currently undertaking their mandated national service on an empty stomach till the end of their 52 weeks of service to the nation. This condition of service is non-negotiable.”

“Because the amount owed them by the government is colossal, the short-notice exercise will have severe consequences on our members, particularly during this vacation period, exacerbating the financial hardships they are facing already”, lamented the Union.

The Union also “urges the government to reconsider the January 2026 declaration on trainee allowance payments, considering the rising cost of living (GH¢1,800.00 for two square meals daily).

“This precarious situation will only subject us to financial hemorrhage and nosebleeds with no respite.

“We believe that with empathy and understanding, the government can find a solution that supports our members. We look forward to a favourable response”, it said.

What to know about the COVID variant that may cause ‘razor blade’ sore throats

The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID.

That’s because the variant — NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” — may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors in the United Kingdom, India and elsewhere, according to media outlets in those countries. 

Other COVID-19 symptoms of any variant include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.

Experts say there isn’t major cause for concern with the Nimbus variant, but here ‘s what else you need to know about it. 

Here’s where the variant causing ‘razor blade throat’ is spreading

The rise in cases late last month is primarily in eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions, the World Health Organization said May 28. The new variant had reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-May.

Airport screening in the United States detected the new variant in travelers arriving from those regions to destinations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York.

You aren’t likely to get sicker from this variant than others

Not so far, anyway.

The WHO said some western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but there’s nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the Nimbus variant

Yes.

The WHO has designated Nimbus as a “variant under monitoring” and considers the public health risk low at the global level. Current vaccines are expected to remain effective.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last month that COVID-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts.

Ghana AIDS Commission partners with YEA to sensitise youth on HIV/AIDS  

The Ghana AIDS Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) to enhance HIV/AIDS sensitisation among young people. 

The move is to curb the increased rate of HIV infections among young people and adolescents in the country. 

The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Dr Kharmacelle Prosper Akanbong, said the Commission intended to use the platform of YEA to sensitise the youth through awareness creation. 

It would also engage them as ambassadors in the dissemination of preventive messages and sensitisation programmes in their communities. 

Dr Akanbong said out of 15,536 new infectious recorded in 2024 a greater proportion was in the youth bracket as compared to other segments of the population.

Though the number of cases had been reduced in 2024 as against 2023, the rate of cases among young people was still on the increase, she said. 

“So we felt we should come into collaboration with the YEA to use the platform to empower young people to enable them to make responsible decisions and choices,” she added.

The CEO of YEA, Malik Basintale, said they were delighted to collaborate with the AIDS Commission in its quest to reduce AIDs among the youth. 

He said that could be achieved through information flow and empowerment to make informed decisions and engage in responsible behaviours. 

“The agenda is to ensure that we are able to help the young man and young woman out there, first in securing a job, and second, in becoming ambassadors for the campaign against HIV,” he said. 

 “As young people, we must all practise responsible sexual behaviours. You must take care and remember that HIV is still alive. Not to stigmatise anyone, but it is better to prevent than to cure,” Mr Basintale added. 

Ghana receives shipment of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines

The government has taken delivery of the first consignment of Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines aimed at preventing cervical cancer.

The initial batch of 441,860 doses marks the start of a nationwide rollout designed to reduce the incidence of one of the most common and preventable cancers affecting women.

In a statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, 18 June, UNICEF Ghana the lead agency responsible for procuring and shipping the vaccines announced that over the coming weeks, it will deliver more than 2.5 million doses of the HPV vaccine to Ghana.

According to the statement, the delivery will support a five-day national immunisation campaign scheduled for September 2025. The campaign, to be led by the Ghana Health Service, aims to protect girls and women from cervical cancer—a preventable yet widespread disease.

Following the campaign, the vaccine will be offered free of charge as part of the routine immunisation programme for girls turning nine years old, reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to public health.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by a viral infection of the female reproductive tract. Despite being among the most easily preventable cancers in women, efforts to control it are hindered by limited knowledge about the disease, poor access to preventive services such as vaccination, and the affordability of such services.

The statement described the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) as “a significant step in the right direction.”

It noted that the HPV vaccine is safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer and is already included in the national routine immunisation schedules of over 140 countries. Making the vaccine accessible to all girls ensures they are protected long before they are at risk, reducing the long-term health burden.

“Preventing cervical cancer allows girls to grow into healthy women, mothers, and leaders who can contribute meaningfully to society,” the statement added.

“This initiative marks a significant advancement in promoting public health in Ghana, ensuring that future generations of women are safeguarded against cervical cancer.”

About UNICEF

UNICEF is the world’s leading child rights organisation, working in over 190 countries and territories to reach every child, everywhere. It believes in the power of every child and is committed to protecting and promoting their rights, including the right to health and survival.