Masindi parents cautioned against discriminating sickle cell children
Byaruhanga says although the national prevalence stands at 3%, Masindi district records a prevalence of 2%.
Masindi: Parents and guardians in Masindi district have been cautioned against discriminating against children living with sickle cell disease and encouraged to seek early screening to help prevent the spread of the genetic condition.
The call has been made by Annet Nabukeya Kagoro, founder of Austin Sickle Cell Support Organization (AUSSO), ahead of the Masindi Sickle Cell Awareness Run 2026.
The run is scheduled for September 26th at St. Matthew’s Cathedral Playground in Masindi Municipality and is being organized in partnership with Masindi-Kitara Diocese and Masindi District Local Government.
Kagoro has urged parents to support children living with sickle cell disease and seek medication from government health facilities instead of discriminating against them.
She has also encouraged couples to undergo sickle cell screening before marriage to establish their status and understand the risk of passing the condition on to their children.
Kagoro says AUSSO is currently supporting 50 children living with sickle cell disease, adding that proceeds from the awareness run will be used to provide care and support to the affected children.
She has called on residents and stakeholders in Masindi and beyond to participate in the event, which will also include blood donation and free sickle cell screening.
Kagoro says T-shirts, vests and caps for the run are available at St. Matthew’s Cathedral and D’venue Hotel in Masindi Town. T-shirts are going for Shs30,000, vests at Shs25,000 and caps at Shs15,000.
Meanwhile, Daniel Byaruhanga Kwesiga, the Senior Clinical Officer in charge of sickle cell patients at Masindi General Hospital, says Uganda ranks 5th in Africa in sickle cell cases.
Byaruhanga says although the national prevalence stands at 3%, Masindi district records a prevalence of 2%. He, however, says the district continues to face shortages of essential sickle cell medicines, particularly at lower health facilities.
Byaruhanga also says inadequate screening kits have made it difficult to establish accurate figures on the number of people living with the condition.
He has called for stronger community surveillance and increased public awareness, emphasizing that sickle cell disease is genetic and communities need adequate information to reduce its transmission.
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