The Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation (FoSCel) has called on the government to integrate Sickle Cell education into Ghana’s junior high school (JHS) and senior high school (SHS) curriculum.
The appeal was made by the foundation’s founder, Amos Andoh, during a stakeholders’ engagement in Accra.
Mr. Andoh highlighted that approximately 18,000 babies are born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) annually in Ghana, yet many students complete school without understanding the condition. He explained that this lack of awareness often results in avoidable pain, stigma, and complications for those living with SCD.
“We are not just talking about statistics; we are talking about children, families, and futures,” Amos Andoh emphasized. “Knowledge protects life, and early awareness changes destinies. That is why FoSCel exists—to educate, to advocate, and to support without silence.”
FoSCel has developed a comic strip education model to simplify Sickle Cell education, which has been piloted in schools and communities with positive feedback. The model uses storytelling and illustrations to explain genotype inheritance, early screening, prevention, and stigma reduction. The foundation is proposing that this model be scaled nationwide to support the implementation of the National Sickle Cell Disease Strategy.
Mr. Andoh commended the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, for launching the National Sickle Cell Disease Screening and Case Management Guidelines in December 2025, noting that combining this initiative with school-based education will help reduce the burden of SCD in Ghana.
“We envision a Ghana where students make informed health decisions, families are protected through genotype awareness, communities respond with empathy, and Sickle Cell warriors live with dignity. We urge stakeholders to support the integration of Sickle Cell education into the school system, in partnership and alignment with national policy,” he added.
FoSCel has already made significant strides in empowering communities through education, awareness, and screening. The foundation has organised a National Symposium, conducted awareness sessions in schools and communities, and partnered with counsellors to prioritise genotype education in premarital counselling.
The foundation has pledged its readiness to contribute research, tools, and community experience to support the integration of Sickle Cell education into the school curriculum.
“Together, we can ensure that Ghana’s Sickle Cell education moves from policy to practice,” Amos Andoh concluded.
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