Editorial
Make sickle cell treatment affordable and accessible
People with sickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited blood disorder, endure unhappy lives due to its numerous problems, yet, they can manage their illness and lead happy lives if they receive regular medical care and have access to medications.
Unfortunately, advanced treatments for SCD are very expensive, and therapies that can cure the disease are still out of reach.
Sickle cell disease is a dangerous genetic condition as red blood cells with the shape of a sickle block blood flow, causing severe pain, organ damage, life-threatening illnesses, and possibly early death.
The disease causes severe complications including chronic pain, anaemia, infections, acute chest syndrome, strokes and organ damage, often leading to shortened life expectancy.
Globally, around 1,000 babies are born with the condition daily, with three-quarters in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana SCD, affects about three in every 100 newborns.
It was against this backdrop that health experts have urged Ghana to prioritise affordable and accessible treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) to enable patients benefit from gene therapy which has been developed in recent years, as a potential cure.
According to Dr. Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a Sickle Cell and Childhood Cancer Expert at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the country must focus on practical, lower-cost interventions such as hydroxyurea, a decade-old cancer drug proven to reduce painful episodes, hospitalisation and life-threatening complications in SCD patients.”
He said that the medicine, that is swallowed, makes red blood cells work better and is thought to be safe and successful.
“Hydroxyurea therapy is as good as the cure and a low-hanging fruit to pluck, we must bring a cure to our sickle cell warriors, but do so sustainably,” he urged.
The expert noted that despite its benefits, “hydroxyurea is not widely accessible in Ghana” stressing that, “many patients either cannot afford it or struggle with irregular supply through the health system.”
The Spectator supports the expert’s argument that expanding access will offer short-term respite as the nation develops the necessary infrastructure, educates experts, and obtains the funds to support curative treatments in the future.
With an estimated 15,000 babies born with sickle cell disease each year in Ghana, Dr. Osei Tutu issued a warning, pointing out that “failure to improve access to effective treatment will leave many patients vulnerable to preventable complications and early death.”
In light of this, the Spectator suggests that people obtain genetic testing in order to determine their carrier status.
A genetic counsellor can also explain the inheritance concerns and go over ways to keep their children from inheriting the illness if both partners are carriers.
To prevent passing on sickle cell disease, couples who are at risk of having a child with the condition can decide to adopt a child or live child-free.
Churches should require that prospective partners know their current status in order to decide whether or not to continue their relationship.
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In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
