The Draft nationwide Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Screening and Case Management Guidelines are being reviewed and validated by a nationwide stakeholder validation meeting organized by the Ministry of Health with assistance from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
A coordinated, tiered strategy for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care is outlined in the draft guidelines, which were created after months of technical meetings with the SCD Technical Working Group.
This covers hydroxyurea medication, genetic counseling, neonatal screening, acute complication management, and robust referral and monitoring systems.
Dr. Ignatius Awinibuno, Director of Allied Health, welcomed attendees on behalf of the Chief Director and emphasized the urgent need to improve SCD prevention and management, pointing out that Ghana reports between 15,000 and 20,000 new SCD births per year.
He underlined that in order to guarantee that no patient is left behind, the guidelines would offer an equitable, context-specific, and evidence-based approach.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of the Public Health Division, spoke on behalf of the Director General and the Ghana Health Service, reiterating the Service’s commitment to integrating and prioritizing SCD services in the delivery of health services. He also urged stakeholders to provide feedback that will make the guidelines useful and effective.
Ms. Pelumi Okuyemi spoke on behalf of CHAI’s Country Director, reaffirming the organization’s technical assistance support in creating the guidelines and its dedication to collaborating with the Ministry and GHS to guarantee more comprehensive and efficient SCD care and management.
To make sure the final guidelines are operationally realistic, internationally aligned, and customized for Ghana’s health system, participants participated in plenary talks, group projects, and guided review sessions.
Professor Alex Osei Akoto, Head of the Sickle Cell Disease Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Associate Professor in the Department of Child Health at KNUST-SMS, presided over the meeting.
Source: newsthemegh.com