Sickle cell disease patients to receive blood cell transfusions via JOOTRH initiative
Kenya Introduces Red Blood Cell Exchange Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease
Starting September 1, 2025, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu will offer Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCx) therapy, marking a significant milestone in the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Kenya. This development, made possible through a collaboration with The Nairobi West Hospital, will bring advanced therapy to Western Kenya for the first time 14.
The history of RBCx therapy in Kenya has been one of limited access for patients. With no local options available, patients often had to travel overseas or to Nairobi for specialized care, highlighting a gap in treatment options 1.
The rollout of RBCx therapy at JOOTRH will be centred at Victoria Hospital's annex in Milimani, Kisumu. The Nairobi West Hospital will provide technical support and expert training to JOOTRH staff to ensure successful implementation 1[5].
This collaboration is expected to have a profound impact on the local healthcare system:
- It will reduce long-distance travel for patients seeking RBCx therapy.
- It will address the shortage of specialized SCD care in the region.
- The initiative supports decentralization of healthcare, making advanced treatments affordable and more sustainable locally.
- By improving patient outcomes, it potentially decreases complications, hospital admissions, and mortality associated with SCD.
- The collaboration enhances local capacity and expertise in managing SCD, which can influence broader health system strengthening 1.
The Nairobi West Hospital, which runs Kenya's only Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, will play a key role in the project. Their contribution includes supplying the necessary apheresis machine and providing technical expertise 1.
The sickle cell trait (HbAS), which provides some protection against malaria, is common in the region, leading to a higher chance of two carriers having a child with sickle cell disease. The collaboration could significantly reduce the number of patients who previously had to travel abroad for treatment or face long waiting periods at overstretched public facilities 1.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve outcomes for patients in Kisumu and surrounding counties, an area with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease. The Nairobi West Hospital's BMT Unit is the only facility in Kenya to offer this complex treatment locally 1.
JOOTRH CEO Dr Richard Lesiyampe welcomed the collaboration, stating it could be a game-changer in SCD treatment. Dr Kibet Shikuku, Medical Director at The Nairobi West Hospital, echoed this sentiment, stating that the collaboration aims to provide high-end, life-saving interventions within Kenya 1.
The partnership between JOOTRH and The Nairobi West Hospital signals a shift toward decentralised, affordable, and sustainable healthcare solutions. This development represents a game-changer for Kenyan SCD care, particularly in Western Kenya, promoting greater equity in access to lifesaving treatment and relieving pressure on overstretched public hospitals 1.
(Note: This article has been automatically generated from the provided bullet points. Adjustments may be necessary for grammar, style, and coherence.)
- By 2025, the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu, in collaboration with The Nairobi West Hospital, will introduce Red Blood Cell Exchange (RBCx) therapy, an advanced treatment for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
- Previously, patients suffering from SCD had limited access to RBCx therapy, often requiring overseas travel or travel to Nairobi for specialized care.
- The rollout of RBCx therapy at JOOTRH, located at Victoria Hospital's annex in Milimani, Kisumu, has the potential to address the shortage of specialized SCD care, reduce travel distance for patients, support healthcare decentralization, and improve patient outcomes.
- The collaboration between JOOTRH and The Nairobi West Hospital marks a significant advancement in Kenyan healthcare, moving towards decentralized, affordable, and sustainable healthcare solutions, thereby promoting equity in access to lifesaving treatments for chronic diseases like SCD.
