By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
The Founder of the Focus on Sickle-Cell Foundation (FosCel), Mr Amos Andoh, is calling for the integration of sickle cell education into Ghana’s Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) curriculum.
Speaking at a national press conference, Mr Andoh emphasized that knowledge is “the first medicine” in the fight against the disease.
“We must equip our young people with the knowledge to protect themselves and their futures,” Mr Andoh urged. The advocacy is personal for Mr Andoh, who lives with sickle cell disease.
“My life has taught me one clear lesson: knowledge protects life, and early awareness changes destiny,” he stated.
With approximately 18,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually in Ghana, FosCel has developed a comic strip education model to simplify concepts such as genotype inheritance, early screening, prevention, and stigma reduction.
The model has been piloted in schools, churches, mosques, and community settings, receiving positive feedback.
Mr Andoh proposed that the Ministries of Health and Education adopt and scale the comic strip model nationwide to support implementation of the National Sickle Cell Strategy in schools.
He welcomed the inclusion of sickle cell treatment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), saying it’s a “very powerful approach” that offers relief to families.
“Let’s prioritize sickle cell education in our schools,” Mr Andoh appealed.
“Let our classrooms teach what our hospitals treat. Let knowledge become our first medicine.”
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