18,000 babies born with sickle cell disease in Ghana annually – FoSCel

Every year, an estimated 18,000 newborns in Ghana are born with sickle cell disease, according to Amos Andoh, Founder and Executive Director of the FoSCel Foundation. He believes that integrating sickle cell education into the country's school curriculum can help dispel myths, reduce stigma, and enable young people to make informed decisions about their health and future families.

During a discussion on 'Sickle Cell Disease; Myths and Misconceptions' on the GTV Breakfast Show, Mr. Andoh emphasized that ignorance remains a significant obstacle in combating the condition. He explained that educating young people about sickle cell disease can shape their well-informed decisions as they grow up. Additionally, formal education should address genotype compatibility, which he considers a crucial aspect in preventing the birth of children with the disease.

Mr. Andoh highlighted the importance of providing young individuals with accurate information before they engage in relationships and childbirth, as this could help reduce the number of children born with sickle cell disease. Consequently, he advocated for the inclusion of sickle cell education in the school curriculum to ensure students gain a comprehensive understanding of the disease, its inheritance patterns, and the stigma associated with it.