Reprieve for children with sickle cell as Bungoma Hospital opens specialised clinic
Western
By
Juliet Omelo
| Aug 26, 2025
Children living with Sickle Cell disease in Bungoma County have received a major boost after the Bungoma Children's Hospital unveiled a specialized clinic dedicated to managing the condition.
The new facility, part of an expanded hospital building launched over the weekend, comes at a time when Sickle Cell cases are on the rise in the county, forcing many families to travel long distances to seek care.
Dr Dickens Lubanga, a pediatrician at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, said the new clinic will transform care for patients and ease the financial burden on families.
“Previously, we had to send samples to Eldoret for Sickle Cell testing, which delayed diagnosis and treatment. Now, we can conduct screenings right here in Bungoma and provide specialised care to our patients,” Lubanga explained.
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He emphasized the importance of premarital screening as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of the disease.
“Sickle Cell is a genetic disorder that is entirely preventable if couples get tested before marriage. This allows people to make informed decisions about their reproductive health,” he said.
Lubanga warned of the long-term demands of caring for children with Sickle Cell, noting that families spend between Sh6,000 and Sh10,000 every month on medication, hydroxyurea, and vaccinations.
“It is not only emotionally draining but also financially challenging. We want to prevent new cases through awareness and early screening,” Dr Lubanga added.
Currently, the hospital is managing dozens of patients living with the condition, with the new clinic expected to handle many more.
Alongside medical treatment, the facility will also offer counseling, play therapy, and family-friendly spaces to support the holistic well-being of children. “We believe that a healthy child should be able to play, even in the midst of treatment,” said the pediatrician.
To strengthen service delivery, Bungoma Children’s Hospital has partnered with other hospitals in Eldoret and health stakeholders to acquire advanced diagnostic equipment and dispatch more specialists to the region.
READ: Why couples must test for sickle cell disease before getting babies
“Initially, the facility could only provide inpatient services with a capacity of 10 beds. The new building will now host 80 beds, including 10 private wards and four semi-private wards,” disclosed Dr Lubanga.
He raised concern over the number of children missing school due to chronic illnesses, singling out Sickle Cell disease as one of the biggest health burdens in Bungoma.
“That is why we decided to expand the facility to help control the menace,” he said.
Lubanga, however, lamented the shortage of pediatricians in the county, noting that Bungoma has only five serving a population of more than two million people.
“This expansion is a big step forward, but we still need more specialists to keep up with demand. We want our children to live long, healthy lives, not to die prematurely from a disease we understand and can control,” he observed.