The Ministry of Health has commended Sarafinah Sickle Cell Society (SASCELLS) for supporting government efforts to combat sickle cell disease through community screening, awareness campaigns, and strengthening health services.
Speaking during the Self Care Awareness Day celebrations in Lugazi Municipality, Buikwe District, on Thursday, the Director of Self Care at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Richard Mugahi, described sickle cell disease as one of Uganda’s major public health challenges alongside diabetes and hypertension.
He said partnerships with organisations such as SASCELLS are helping reduce the burden of the disease by expanding access to testing, promoting public awareness, and encouraging early diagnosis.
“Giving greater attention to sickle cell disease reduces the burden on families and communities while making self-care more practical. Their presence helps communities access testing and understand the disease better,” he said.
During the event, SASCELLS, with support from the United States-based Sickle Forward, provided free sickle cell screening to about 200 adults and 50 children, with those requiring further assessment referred to Kawolo Hospital.
“We identified a few positive cases and provided counselling to parents who had many questions about the disease before referring them to Kawolo Hospital for confirmatory testing,” said Beatrice Luwedde, a Medical Laboratory Officer with the organisation.
Luwedde said that, for many clients who visited their tent, the screening exercise offered their first opportunity to understand their genetic status and receive professional guidance on what the results meant.
She added that early diagnosis allows affected children to receive timely care while helping couples make informed reproductive decisions.
“Many Ugandans still lack adequate knowledge about sickle cell disease, resulting in late diagnosis, misconceptions, and preventable suffering for affected families,” she added.
The organisation’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sarafinah Bukirwa, said the Lugazi outreach forms part of wider efforts being implemented across several districts to improve access to sickle cell services.
With support from Sickle Forward, led by Dr. Alan Anderson, the organisation has helped establish sickle cell clinics, train health workers, conduct community screening, and donate specialised diagnostic equipment, including Gazelle machines and chemistry analysers.
Districts that have benefited include Mukono, Buikwe, Buvuma, Ntoroko, Hoima, and communities across the Rwenzori region.
The expansion of specialised clinics has reduced the distance many families previously travelled to access diagnosis and treatment, improving continuity of care for children living with sickle cell disease.
The Minister of State for Health (General Duties), Anifa Bangirana Kawooya, who officiated at the celebrations, acknowledged the growing contribution of development partners in strengthening Uganda’s health system.
She said organisations such as SASCELLS are helping the government extend essential services to communities that would otherwise remain underserved.
“The government cannot work alone. Partnerships like these strengthen our programmes and enable more Ugandans to access lifesaving services,” she said.
She also urged the public to embrace self-care by maintaining personal hygiene, exercising regularly, eating balanced diets, and seeking routine medical check-ups.
“Testing is free at government health facilities. Take time away from work to exercise because prevention is better than spending your life on medication. A balanced diet and regular health checks are essential for healthy living,” she said.
To reinforce the message that health begins with everyday choices, the Ministry of Health organised bicycle races, aerobics sessions, football, and netball matches involving ministry officials, district, and municipal staff.
The Ministry of Health maintains that physical activity, routine screening, and greater public awareness are essential in reducing the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
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