Kisoro Hospital Records Rise in Sickle Cell Cases as Children Dominate Patients

What the report says

Kisoro District General Hospital in western Uganda says it is seeing more patients with sickle cell disease, with the number under care rising from 13 in 2022 to 23 currently. According to the hospital, most of the patients are children below 15, highlighting a growing burden of the inherited blood disorder among younger people in the district.

The Nile Post reports that Christopher Habimana, a chronic care clinical officer at the hospital, said the earlier cases came from different communities across Kisoro District. He said the condition can appear through symptoms such as severe joint pain, slow growth, yellowing of the eyes, breathing problems and repeated infections. The article notes that sickle cell disease is passed through families, is not contagious and has no known cure, though its complications can be managed.

Habimana urged parents and couples planning to have children to go for sickle cell screening and genetic counselling, especially if both partners carry the trait. He said early testing can help identify the condition sooner, allowing patients to be monitored and treated before complications worsen.

The report adds to wider public health concerns in Uganda, where health workers have repeatedly called for more awareness around screening and genetic counselling. In Kisoro, the hospital’s rising case count suggests a need for earlier diagnosis and better support for affected children and families.