Ghana urged to integrate universal sickle cell screening into primary healthcare
Ghana has been urged to establish a sustainable, nationally funded newborn screening programme for sickle cell disease (SCD), building on three decades of progress in early detection and treatment. The call was made by Professor Isaac Odame, Haematology Section Head at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada, and Director of the Global Sickle Cell Disease Network, during the inaugural Prof. Ohene-Frempong Memorial Lecture at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) on October 29. The lecture, held in memory of the late Professor Kwaku Ohene-Frempong and his pioneering contribution to sickle cell disease care and research, highlighted Ghana’s achievements in screening and treating the condition since the first pilot newborn screening programme was conducted in Kumasi in 1…