Patients with Sickle Cell anaemia in Homa Bay are calling on the government to ease their burden by subsidising the high cost of essential medication, particularly hydroxyurea.
Speaking during World Sickle Cell Day at Nyalkilnyi Health Facility in Homa Bay town, a 37-year-old Everline Awuor, who is a sickle cell warrior, appealed to the government to make hydroxyurea free of charge, just like medications for HIV and tuberculosis, or at least subsidise it to make it affordable for warriors from low-income families.
“We are asking the government to support us. If they can provide free medication for diseases like HIV and TB, then they can do the same for sickle cell or at least make it affordable for low-income families,” she urged.
Beyond the physical pain, the mother of two said she grapples with the financial strain of maintaining her health.
Hydroxyurea is among other medications for managing the painful and life-threatening symptoms of the disease and improving the quality of life.
While the drug is available at some local pharmacies, patients complained that it was rarely stocked in public hospitals, a situation that pushes them to local pharmacies seeking the highly priced drugs.
“This drug is rarely available in public hospitals and we are often forced to buy it from pharmacies, which is difficult, especially when you do not have the money to buy the daily dose,” Awuor noted.
“Hydroxyurea costs Sh50 per capsule. I need two each day. That is Sh100 daily, and sometimes this amount is often difficult to come by so you have to choose between buying food and buying medicine,” lamented Awuor.
Patients with this disease usually experience frequent episodes of pain, risk of infection, and chronic fatigue, and medication helps in reducing these complications.
Awuor’s sentiments were also echoed by caregivers like Ken Ouma and Jackline Oginga, who are parents of sickle-celled boys.
Ouma reiterated that the cost of medication is overwhelming, stressing that many families were struggling under the weight of the high medical costs, which are also not covered under the new Social Health Authority (SHA).
“These medicines which are lifesaving are very costly and out of reach for many. To make it worse, they are not covered by SHA, so the financial burden is entirely on the patient’s family. It becomes painful watching your child suffer because you cannot afford their medicine,” he said.
Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells, leading to chronic pain, frequent infections, and fatigue, and without proper medication, patients are at risk of severe complications.
Steven Kimwaki, the Mobile Health Activity Manager for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), however, stressed the need for government support, not just in subsidising essential medications like hydroxyurea but also in scaling up awareness and expanding access to care.
“We are calling on partners and the government to support us in ensuring these drugs are available at health facilities to ensure the patients are able to access them,” he said.
“Hydroxyurea is critical for improving patient outcomes, but so are preventive treatments like malaria drugs, vaccines, and antibiotics, especially for children with sickle cell anaemia who are prone to infections,” Kimwaki added.
MSF is currently supporting sickle cell patients at three facilities within Homa Bay town, including Nyalkilnyi, Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Marindi Health Centre.
“We are currently managing 170 patients at Nyalkilnyi alone. However, most of them come to us late when complications have already set in. This is usually caused by lack of access to early screening and treatment,” he noted.
He also emphasised the importance of community education to dispel the myths and misconceptions that surround this disease.
By Sitna Omar
