XYSCO Sickle Cell Foundation and Nurses at KATH, Family Medicine Directorate in an initiative dubbed “Nursing beyond hospital walls” Lead Powerful Sickle Cell Awareness Campaign at KNUST SHS

In a bold and compassionate move to curb the prevalence of sickle cell disease among young Ghanaians, the XYSCO Sickle Cell Foundation and nurses from Family Medicine Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), under the leadership of Miss Catherine Akyamaah Korankye Eastwood, spearheaded a powerful educational campaign at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Senior High School (KNUST SHS) in Kumasi.

The campaign, which marked the commemoration of World Sickle Cell Day, was designed to create awareness, provide health education, and promote genotype testing among students. Under the theme, “Know Your Genotype – Break the Cycle of Sickle Cell Disease”, the program brought together health professionals, teachers, students, and youth advocates in a unified effort to fight the genetic disorder that affects thousands of Ghanaians each year.

Nurses and health practitioners from KATH’s Family Medicine Directorate played a lead role, delivering in-depth presentations, sharing patient experiences, and providing practical guidance on managing sickle cell disease. The seminar emphasized the importance of knowing one’s genotype status before marriage, a key strategy in preventing the spread of the disease to future generations.

“We’re here because we care deeply about prevention. Sickle cell disease is not curable, but it is preventable,” said the lead nurse popularly called Nurse CAKE “Education is the most powerful weapon we have in this fight.”

The XYSCO Foundation, known for its youth-centered approach to healthcare advocacy, facilitated engaging sessions that included testimonies from individuals living with the condition, peer education skits, and interactive Q&A periods. Students were also taken through the basics of the genetic transmission of the disease and were encouraged to undergo genotype testing.

Founder of XYSCO Cell Foundation, Mr. Francis Nyame Sarkodie emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to supporting schools and communities across Ghana. “We want to take this message to every corner of the country, starting with young people. Knowledge is the first step to protection,” he remarked.

Teachers and administrators at KNUST SHS expressed profound appreciation for the initiative. Mr. Ernest Nyarko, a senior staff member at the school, lauded the organizers for bringing such a life-saving conversation to the doorstep of education. “This is the kind of education our children need alongside their academics,” he stated.

The event concluded with a symbolic pledge by students to check their genotype status and to spread awareness among their peers, family, and community. Other contributors to this awareness seminar included Dr. Efua Owusu Ansah, Dr. Mandy Osei Bonsu and Dr. Harriet Adutwumwaa Asamoah Sakyi.

The collaboration between the “Nursing Beyond Hospital Walls” Initiative and XYSCO Foundation marks a significant milestone in community-based health outreach, setting a precedent for hospital-led public education in Ghana.