By Daniel Bampoe
The Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation (FoSCel) has called on the Government of Ghana to integrate comprehensive sickle cell education into the Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) curricula to better educate young people about the disease and its prevention.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, Amos Andoh, Founder of FoSCel and also a sickle cell patient, emphasized the urgent need to introduce sickle cell education at the primary level and raise awareness among the younger generation.
According to him, studies in Ghana indicate that about 2% of newborns, nearly 18,000 babies every year, are born with Sickle Cell Disease.
“These are not statistics.
They are children, they are families, and they are futures. Yet many students complete school without understanding what genotypes mean, how sickle cell is inherited, or how informed choices can prevent suffering. Without early detection and education, too many children face avoidable pain, stigma, and complications. While treatment saves lives, education prevents pain before it begins.”
Andoh noted that his personal journey has reinforced the importance of early education and awareness.
“My life has taught me one clear lesson: knowledge protects life, and early awareness changes destinies. That is why FoSCel exists—to educate, to advocate, and to support without silence.”
He commended the Government of Ghana, particularly the Ministry of Health, for the historic launch of the National Sickle Cell Disease Screening and Case Management Guidelines in December 2025, as well as earlier initiatives such as free sickle cell treatment.
He described these efforts as compassionate, evidence-based leadership that offers renewed hope to thousands of families living with the condition.
Seizing the opportunity, Andoh formally presented a policy proposal advocating for the integration of sickle cell education into the JHS and SHS curricula, in alignment with the Ministry of Health’s National Sickle Cell Disease Strategy (2024–2028), which prioritises education, awareness, and early intervention.
He explained that FoSCel’s role is to demonstrate how such education can be delivered practically within the school system.
He highlighted FoSCel’s “Catch Them Young” approach, which introduces age-appropriate sickle cell education at the JHS and SHS levels, enabling students to grow up informed, empathetic, and empowered to make responsible health decisions.
According to him, this approach complements national policy by preparing young people long before marriage and parenthood.
Comic Strip
To support this vision, FoSCel has developed an original Sickle Cell Comic Strip education model.
Through storytelling and illustrations, the model simplifies complex concepts such as genotype inheritance, early screening, prevention, and stigma reduction.
Andoh explained that the model has been piloted in schools, churches, mosques, and communities in the Effutu Municipality and beyond, receiving strong positive feedback from both students and teachers.
For many young people, it marked their first structured and relatable exposure to sickle cell education. He noted that if adopted by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, the comic strip model could be scaled nationwide to support the implementation of the National Sickle Cell Disease Strategy in schools.
These interventions, he said, demonstrate that school-based education is a powerful tool for breaking myths, promoting informed choices, encouraging early screening, and reducing stigma.
Andoh therefore called on all stakeholders to support the integration of sickle cell education into the school system in partnership with, and in alignment with, national policy.
He concluded by sharing FoSCel’s vision of 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.
