Migori: Migori County Government, in partnership with Journey by Grace Mission International from the United States, has announced a medical camp aimed at addressing sickle cell disease in the region. Speaking to KNA at his office, the County Deputy Governor (DG) Joseph Mahiri said the camp will offer screening, medical services, and family support, alongside creating awareness about the disease.
According to Kenya News Agency, the camp, which will be held at Asirio Grounds in Kehancha town, aims to address various challenges affecting people living with the disease, as well as deconstruct traditional beliefs about witchcraft among the Abakuria in relation to the disease. The Journey by Grace Mission International aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, including a bold commitment to end the epidemics of stigmatisation against children with disabilities and sickle cell disease and other communicable diseases by 2026.
The organisation also aims to provide affordable medicine and health wellness services to all at all ages. Mahiri said that one of the myths surrounding sickle cell disease in the Kuria region is the belief that the disease is an ancestral curse, with some associating it with witchcraft.
Sickle cell disease remains a pressing health challenge in Migori, with limited treatment facilities available in the country. Currently, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital in Kisumu County is the only facility in the region equipped to handle the disease, forcing many patients to travel long distances for specialised care.
The DG revealed that the county government plans to carry out an awareness campaign to educate the society as well as establish a sickle cell treatment centre in Migori to ease the burden on patients and their families. The upcoming medical camp that will kick off this August will bring together health professionals, volunteers, and community members in a coordinated effort to fight the disease, debunk harmful myths, and encourage early diagnosis.
He emphasised that such initiatives will not only save lives but also empower communities with accurate information about the genetic condition of sickle cell disease.