The Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation (NNHF) program "Expanding access to blood disorder care in East Africa" is a transformative 2-year project officially launched on October 9, 2023.
Expanding access to blood disorder care in East Africa is crucial for improving health outcomes among individuals affected by conditions such as haemophilia, sickle cell disease, and other bleeding disorders. Timely diagnosis, treatment, and management of these conditions can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates, enhancing overall quality of life.
It will focus on supporting rapid access to care for people with haemophilia and will also benefit people with sickle cell disease. Haemophilia and sickle cell disease are two haematological disorders that are overly inherited and afflict a large population of Kenyans with devastating outcomes. Haemophilia is a bleeding disorder that has severe complications if unattended and inappropriately managed. It can lead to mortality due to uncontrolled bleeding.
This initiative is poised to revolutionize the landscape of blood disorder care in the region, with the following key objectives:
- Leverage on the learnings and experiences from all four countries.
- Improve access to blood disorders care infrastructure in all four countries by establishing/ strengthening 7 centres in 3rd and 2nd level hospitals in Uganda and Rwanda and making basic care available in more than 30 primary care facilities across Kenya and Tanzania.
- Increase diagnosis rate by equipping the centres and through awareness raising and screening activities (diagnosing 700 new persons with haemophilia).
- Create or upgrade national blood disorders registries in Uganda and Rwanda.
- Empower national patient organisations.
- Build strategic alliances and advocate for improved care.
