Kisumu to host international conference on sickle cell disease, hemophilia

Kisumu, Monday, June 19, 2023

KNA by Chris Mahandara

Medical doctors and health practitioners from across the globe are expected to converge in Kisumu in September for a Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and Hemophilia International conference.

The conference organized by the county government of Kisumu targets to create awareness of the two diseases and at the same time promote medical tourism as the county moves to position Kisumu as a tourist hub.

This comes amidst concerns over rising cases of Sickle Cell Disease in the country with residents of Nyanza, Western, and Coastal regions flagged as being at high risk of developing the disease.

Kisumu County Executive Committee (CECM) member in charge of Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Marketing Farida Salim said the conference was set to change the tide in the management of diseases.

The International Conference slated for September 12th-16th 2023, she added has already attracted both local and international partners.

The partners, she said include the Ministry of Health, Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology, and the International Cancer Institute.

She added that a technical team from the departments of Medical Services and Public Health and that of tourism were mapping more stakeholders to be brought on board to make the conference a success.

The theme of the conference is ‘Transforming the landscape of sickle cell disease and hemophilia progress, challenges and future resolve’, she said the target is to discuss milestones in combating the two diseases and how existing gaps can be bridged.

A secretariat, she added, had been set up and registration was ongoing urging all interested parties to book a spot.

The conference, she added, would boost the economy of Kisumu with exhibitors from all walks of life invited to showcase their products and services.

The Department of Tourism added banks to the conference to showcase Kisumu to the world to attract tourists.

“The delegates coming to the conference will have an opportunity to sample some of the key attractions in Kisumu. This will go a long way in promoting Kisumu as a tourist hub,” she said.

SCD is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two genes-one from each parent that codes for abnormal hemoglobin.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this causes red blood cells to adopt a crescent shape, resembling sticklers. These cells tend to clamp together leading to blockages in blood vessels, causing pain and tissue damage.

Genetic counseling for couples intending to get married has been touted as a long-term solution to the problem.

Most couples are unaware of their SCD status which puts their babies at risk of developing the disease.

In Kenya as per the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 14, 000 children are born with sickle cell every year while globally the number exceeds 300,000.

Majority of the individuals with SCD experience symptoms that can vary in severity including mild to severe pain, swelling of the hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, and vision problems.

Courtesy ; K. N. A