Raising sickle cell awareness: Medicare Foundation hosts health fair and blood donation exercise

In an effort to boost awareness on the significance of blood donation and sickle cell disease, the Medicare Foundation organised a “Health Fair & Blood Drive” on Saturday, 2nd November, at Adabraka in Accra.

Held in partnership with Visionary Norman Foundation, the National Blood Service, and the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, the event aimed to educate the public about sickle cell disease, dispel myths surrounding it, and encourage life-saving blood donations critical to supporting sickle cell patients.

Naana Hagan-Cherry, founder of the Medicare Foundation, emphasized blood donation as a vital yet often overlooked act of generosity, noting that sickle cell, a genetic disorder prevalent in Black communities, frequently requires patients to undergo regular transfusions.

“Sickle cell patients sometimes require blood transfusion for exchange regularly, i.e., every 4 to 6 weeks,” she said.

Reflecting on her 13 years as a military nurse in the British Army, Naana highlighted her dedication to the cause, stressing the urgent need for blood donation within the Black community. “I have lost friends to sickle cell… In the UK, there is a lot of cry for blood—for people to donate blood. Then I realised, What are we doing in the Black community? Sickle cell is very prevalent in the Black community. However, the Black people are those not donating blood,” she added, pointing out the need for greater awareness and participation.

A medical officer at the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Dr. Alpha Oteng, highlighted the importance of premarital counselling and genotype awareness, or be prepared to face the repercussions.

“We want a lot of premarital counseling. People should know their status so that when they are going out and getting married and getting ready to have children, they know what they are going into,” Dr. Oteng explained.

He noted that many couples only learn of their genotype compatibility when a child is diagnosed with sickle cell, a situation that healthcare advocates seek to prevent.

However, he advised that “if there happens to be a child from their marriage that has sickle cell disease, what we advocate for is early hospital attendance.”

Further, he warned that without proper management, sickle cell disease can lead to other serious health conditions like brain stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure.

Both Abraham Norman, founder of the Visionary Norman Foundation, and Dr. Abigail Adu, Project Director, spoke of their foundation’s commitment to creating awareness of sickle cell disease alongside their other health and education projects.

“The reason for us partnering for this program is to contribute our quota to society. When it comes to sickle cell, it is not something that is always pronounced, so as a way for us to ensure the public can hear about it, that is why we are here with them. We want to raise awareness about sickle cell disease just as we actively highlight other illnesses,” they shared.

Participants in the exercise expressed pride in donating blood to save lives while also helping to challenge societal misconceptions surrounding blood donation.