By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
The Simona Ephraim Foundation officially launched today to advocate for sickle cell patients in Ghana. The Foundation announced plans for a fully working sickle cell hospital with bone marrow transplant services, and a mobile app that will help patients locate medicine and hospitals anywhere in the country. It is calling for partners, companies, and government to support the project.
The Foundation unveiled the Simona Ephraim Digital Solution to Sickle Cell at its official launched on June 27 at Alisa Hotel in Tema.
According to them the mobile app is designed to “educate, screen, and support persons living with the disease in Ghana and abroad.”
The Director says it is stepping in. It has planted over 200 trees at Tema General Hospital “because that is where many of our sickle cell warriors go for good health,” and is expecting a 5-member medical team from the Netherlands. The Foundation is also fundraising to test 1,200 youth every three months at GHS 1,200 per test kit. Outreaches cost close to GHS 60,000 each.
Administrative Director Simon……said the app will help patients access care wherever they are. “We will have an app where everybody has an entry to the information we want to bring. I’m in Kumasi. I do not normally live in Kumasi. Which hospital, which pharmacist has my medicine?” she said.
Beyond the app, the Foundation announced plans for a “fully working sickle cell hospital where we can do bone marrow transplant.” It said the hospital would provide medicine, facilities with sickle cell knowledge, and better job opportunities for patients.
The Foundation also said it will take awareness to “schools, to churches, to mosques, to let them know this is how you should deal with these kind of diseases.”
The Simona Ephraim Foundation has officially launched with a mission to improve the lives of sickle cell patients in Ghana.
The Foundation outlined two major projects. First, “a fully working sickle cell hospital where we can do bone marrow transplant.”
Second, a mobile app. “We will have an app where everybody has an entry to the information we want to bring,” Simona said. The app will help patients find care when traveling. “I’m in Kumasi. I do not normally live in Kumasi. Which hospital, which pharmacist has my medicine?” she explained.
The Foundation says it has “big, big dreams” and is now looking for partners. “Any partner who wants to come on board with us and help us on this journey to improve life of sickle cell patients we really embrace them to be part of our journey,” Simona added.
A fundraiser held during the June 27 launching to support the projects. The Foundation is calling on partners, companies, and government to come on board. “Any partner who wants to come on board with us and help us on this journey to improve life of sickle cell patients we really embrace them to be part of our journey,” Simona state
The launch comes as panelists and patients highlight ongoing challenges. Speakers cited stigma, high treatment costs of up to GHS 5,000 a month, and the need for mobile labs and government support under Mahama Care to make life better for “warriors.”
Warriors’ Speak Out: Stigma, Cost, and Hope in Ghana’s Sickle Cell Fight
Persons living with sickle cell disease in Ghana are facing stigma, high medical costs, and poor access to care. Panelists and advocates are calling for more awareness, mobile labs, government support under Mahama Care, and funding to test 1,200 youth every three months. The Simona Ephraim Foundation is leading efforts with tree planting, outreach, and a new digital support app.
For many Ghanaians living with sickle cell disease, the hardest battle is not just the pain, it’s the stigma, the cost, and the silence around the condition.
Three “warriors” recently shared their daily realities on a panel. “Very often people see the diagnosis but they must see the daily realities,” the moderator said, as the panelists spoke about pain, resilience, and strength.
One patient who’s name is Sammuel Frimpong,a warrior ,said, improved access to medical care has changed their life. “I don’t go to the hospitals as much as I used to go before It is a big challenge in Ghana and I believe it’s one of the things that the Simona Ephraim Foundation hopes to tackle,”.
Advocates say stigma remains a major barrier. “I want you to imagine what these our warriors go through everyday with a stigma in the village they will call you cursed,” one speaker said. Another recounted a case where stigma, not illness, caused a patient to lose over a quarter of her weight in a week. “Let’s just show some love. Avoid stigmatizing words,” the speaker urged.
The financial toll is also severe. “Medications and treatments are so expensive,” one speaker noted. Another cited a case spending GHS 500 every three days on wound care “almost five thousand Ghana Cedis every month.”
To expand access, speakers proposed a mobile lab “to move it from center to center” and asked government to extend Mahama Care to sickle cell cases. “It will go a long way in making life better for persons living with sickle cell in Ghana,” one said.
Apostle Benjamin Omar Sikejo has also backed the campaign. “Very, very little is known about it by many people That is why I call on every single person to support this global cause to create awareness,” he said.
The Simona Ephraim……… Foundation officially launched today to advocate for sickle cell patients in Ghana. The Foundation announced plans for a fully working sickle cell hospital with bone marrow transplant services, and a mobile app that will help patients locate medicine and hospitals anywhere in the country. It is calling for partners, companies, and government to support the project.
Speaking at the launching The Administrative Director, Simone Kuijper,said the Foundation will advocate for better health, access to medicine, hospitals with sickle cell knowledge, and job improvements.
She added that that the Foundation will advocate for better health, access to medicine, hospitals with sickle cell knowledge, and job improvements.
“We try to bring also the information to schools, to churches, to mosques, to let them know this is how you should deal with these kind of diseases,” she said.
The CEO of the Simona Ephraim Foundation, said, “We try to bring also the information to schools, to churches, to mosques, to let them know this is how you should deal with these kind of diseases,”
According to him, many Ghanaians living with sickle cell disease, the hardest battle is not just the pain,it is the Stigma,the cost,and the silence around the condition
The Foundation outlined two major projects. First, “a fully working sickle cell hospital where we can do bone marrow transplant.”
Second, a mobile app. “We will have an app where everybody has an entry to the information we want to bring,” Simona said. The app will help patients find care when traveling. “I’m in Kumasi. I do not normally live in Kumasi. Which hospital, which pharmacist has my medicine?” she explained.
The Foundation says it has “big, big dreams” and is now looking for partners. “Any partner who wants to come on board with us and help us on this journey to improve life of sickle cell patients we really embrace them to be part of our journey,” Simona added.
