The World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region has unveiled groundbreaking new guidelines aimed at bolstering efforts to tackle the rising threat of sickle cell disease in the region.
These innovative technical documents are significant for their holistic approach, providing detailed strategies and practical insights to support countries in improving healthcare quality, enhancing treatment accessibility, and boosting overall health outcomes.
Despite substantial global advancements in sickle cell disease treatment, including newborn screening, hydroxyurea therapy, gene therapy, and improved management strategies, equitable access to these treatments remains a challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries across Africa.
Each year, an estimated 240,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Africa, with up to 80% succumbing to severe infections or acute chest syndrome before reaching the age of five — the highest mortality rate for sickle cell disease-related childhood deaths globally.
“As we continue the fight against sickle cell disease, we are confident that this guidance for countries will serve as a valuable new addition to their toolkit, specifically because the guidance is tailored to the African reality, where a multi-faceted approach is key,” said Dr Benido Impouma, Director, Universal Health Coverage/Communicable&Noncommunicable Diseases Programme at WHO Africa.
Dr. Benido Impouma, Director of the Universal Health Coverage/Communicable & Noncommunicable Diseases Programme at WHO Africa, expressed confidence in the relevance of these guidelines tailored to the African context, stressing the necessity of a multifaceted approach in combating sickle cell disease.
The newly released WHO Africa guidelines — titled Guidance Framework for Sickle Cell Disease Management and Harmonized Guide for Sickle Cell Disease Management in Africa — provide strategic direction for policy formulation, comprehensive care planning, and advocacy initiatives.
Together, these documents constitute the WHO SICKLE Package of Interventions for Sickle Cell Disease Management, aimed at offering a comprehensive and integrated approach to managing the disease. The package seeks to ensure access to necessary interventions, promote education and advocacy, improve care quality, and empower patients and communities.
Developed with financial support from the Government of Monaco and other partners, the package integrates the latest research findings, best practices, and innovative approaches to sickle cell disease management, positioning them as essential resources for healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocates alike.
Since 2010, WHO Africa has been at the forefront of the battle against sickle cell disease, focusing on disease intervention scaling, enhancing access to innovative treatments, and improving healthcare infrastructure.
Despite these advancements, significant challenges persist, including limited healthcare infrastructure, low awareness, inadequate access to comprehensive care, limited newborn screening, insufficient research and development, and restricted access to advanced treatments.
Issued by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa, these guidelines underscore WHO’s commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by sickle cell disease across the African Region.