[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [HEALTH]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

Africa sickle cell disease response initiatives

Overview

The Africa CDC has introduced a 10-year continental strategic plan to combat sickle cell disease and other hereditary blood disorders. This initiative aims to address high mortality rates among children, targeting a goal where 90% of babies born with the condition survive past age five by 2035. Key objectives include screening at least 70% of newborns and ensuring 80% of diagnosed patients have access to hydroxyurea.

In alignment with broader efforts to improve neonatal care, Cameroon is moving to implement its own neonatal screening for sickle cell disease. Following a 2025 circular instructing public health facilities to integrate testing into newborn care, health officials have begun validating training modules and tools to deploy these tests across maternity wards. This local effort addresses a significant public health challenge in Cameroon, where an estimated 3.5 million people carry the sickle cell trait.

Entities

France · World Health Organization · Harvard Medical School · GEDREPACAM · African Union

Timeline

  1. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Cameroon to implement neonatal sickle cell disease screening

    Cameroon is preparing to implement neonatal sickle cell disease screening in maternity wards to enable early diagnosis and prevent complications in newborns.

  2. [HEALTH] 4 sources
    Africa CDC launches 10-year plan to combat sickle cell disease

    Africa CDC has launched a 10-year plan to reduce sickle cell mortality, aiming to ensure 90% of affected infants survive past age five by 2035 through improved screening and treatment access.

Sources

africalog.com · echosante.info · epochtimes.fr · pressafrik.com · thewhistler.ng · thisdaylive.com