People living with sickle cell disease in Mukono District are set to benefit from improved access to specialized healthcare following a partnership between Sarafina Sickle Cell Society and Goma Health Centre III to establish a dedicated sickle cell clinic at the facility.
The partnership was agreed upon during a meeting held this week between officials from Sarafina Sickle Cell Society, with support from Sickle Forward, and the management of Goma Health Centre III.
During the discussions, both parties committed to operationalising the new clinic, which is expected to bring essential sickle cell services closer to communities in Mukono and surrounding areas.
Currently, people seeking specialized sickle cell services at Goma Health Centre III are referred to Mukono General Hospital because the facility does not yet have a dedicated clinic. Health officials say the new clinic will reduce referrals, improve early diagnosis and follow-up care, and ease pr essure on higher-level health facilities.
Speaking after the meeting, the Principal Medical Officer at Goma Health Centre III, Dr. Sylvia Nanono, welcomed the partnership and commended Sarafina Sickle Cell Society and its funding partner, Sickle Forward, for investing in efforts to strengthen sickle cell care at the facility.
She noted that Uganda continues to carry a significant burden of sickle cell disease, making partnerships between government health facilities, civil society organizations and international partners critical in expanding access to quality care.
Dr. Nanono said such collaborations are essential in strengthening health systems, improving diagnostic capacity and ensuring that more people living with sickle cell disease receive timely and comprehensive treatment.
The establishment of a dedicated clinic at Goma Health Centre III will bring specialized services closer to communities, reducing the financial and logistical burden on families who currently travel to Mukono General Hospital for care.
Sarafina Sickle Cell Society has been at the forefront of supporting sickle cell care across Uganda through partnerships with government health facilities.
The organization has played a key role in strengthening the country’s capacity to diagnose and manage sickle cell disease by providing critical medical equipment and supplies.
Over the past few years, the society has donated high-value diagnostic equipment, laboratory testing supplies and other essential medical tools to government health facilities in the Rwenzori sub-region and the Greater Mukono area.
The support has enhanced screening, diagnosis and treatment services for thousands of people living with sickle cell disease.
Health experts say the partnership reflects the growing importance of global collaboration in addressing sickle cell disease, which remains a major public health challenge in Uganda and across sub-Saharan Africa.
By combining the efforts of government, local organizations and international partners, they say more people can access lifesaving diagnosis, treatment and long-term care closer to where they live.
The planned sickle cell clinic at Goma Health Centre III is expected to improve access to comprehensive care while strengthening the district’s capacity to respond to one of Uganda’s most prevalent inherited blood disorders.
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