A coalition of advocacy groups, caregivers and persons living with Sickle Cell Disease (DC) have petitioned Kisumu county assembly to declare the condition a public health emergency.
The group wants the legislators to incorporate the disease's management into health policy and county development plans.
Describing SCD as a “silent killer,” the petition highlights the devastating toll it takes on families despite being largely manageable with early and sustained care.
Partners are calling for urgent systemic change to prevent avoidable deaths and long-term suffering.
Citing recent health statistics, the petition notes that roughly two per cent of children born in Kisumu are affected by SCD, while about 21 per cent carry the genetic trait.
Data from Kisumu County Referral Hospital shows a 13.9 per cent trait prevalence among newborns, a figure the advocates say should be a call to action.
The data also indicates that of the estimated 480 children born with SCD in the county each year, nearly half do not survive past age five.
Many suffer repeated, painful health crises, often requiring urgent care that is unavailable in most public health facilities within Kisumu.
The petition also highlights a troubling trend, where many families frequently have to seek treatment outside the county, in places like Homa Bay and Vihiga, where care systems for SCD are better developed.
“It’s heartbreaking that families have to cross county borders just to keep their children alive. This isn’t just a policy failure it’s a moral one,” the petition reads.
Among their key demands are the establishment of at least two dedicated Sickle Cell treatment centres, routine newborn screening for early detection and free or subsidised access to genetic counselling.
They are also calling for consistent availability of life-saving medications such as Hydroxyurea, Voxelotor and Crizanlizumab in all Level 3 and higher healthcare facilities.
The petition goes beyond medical care, emphasising the importance of a holistic approach, advocating for school-based awareness programmes, psychosocial support and vocational training.
It also proposes the creation of a rapid emergency response system tailored to critical SCD complications such as acute chest syndrome and stroke, as well as structured referral systems to avoid fatal delays in treatment.
While acknowledging improvements in the county’s general healthcare services, the coalition criticised the persistent oversight of SCD in health budgets and strategic planning.
They further pleaded with the assembly to include their recommendations in the 2025-26 Annual Development Plan and warned that inaction could prompt peaceful civic demonstrations to demand accountability.
