Health stakeholders in Lango Sub-Region have urged for stronger regional leadership, increased public awareness, and improved access to treatment to combat the burden of sickle cell disease in Uganda. This call to action was made during the Lango Regional Sickle Cell Stakeholders Summit 2026, held in Lira, which brought together Ministry of Health officials, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders. The summit aimed to strengthen health systems and community interventions for prevention, early testing, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care for people living with sickle cell disease.
The two-day summit focused on addressing the challenges faced by patients with sickle cell disease, particularly in rural areas where knowledge about the condition remains limited. Rohit Datar, Head of Business Development and Private Market at Quality Chemical Industries Limited (Qcil), emphasized the need for greater awareness to address misconceptions and delayed diagnosis. He encouraged communities to seek early testing and medical care while challenging misconceptions and stigma associated with sickle cell disease.
Qcil has been working to advance the local manufacture of hydroxyurea, a medicine used to manage sickle cell disease and reduce the frequency and severity of complications. Datar stated that local production would improve availability and affordability while reducing Uganda's reliance on imported supplies. The launch of locally manufactured hydroxyurea is expected to strengthen treatment options for patients who need long-term management.
Although hydroxyurea does not cure sickle cell disease, wider access to the medicine is expected to improve treatment outcomes. The Ministry of Health plans to progressively expand access to hydroxyurea through lower-level health facilities, bringing treatment closer to patients, particularly those in rural communities who face long distances to specialised care.
Lira Regional Referral Hospital currently provides chronic sickle cell care to more than 1,780 registered patients. However, health officials believe the actual number of patients could be higher due to underdiagnosis, especially in rural areas. The summit highlighted the need for increased awareness and access to testing and treatment to address the burden of sickle cell disease.
The Ministry of Health and other stakeholders are working together to strengthen health systems and community interventions to address sickle cell disease. The expansion of access to hydroxyurea and other treatments is expected to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the burden of the disease on patients and the healthcare system.
The Lango Regional Sickle Cell Stakeholders Summit 2026 demonstrated the commitment of stakeholders to addressing the challenges faced by patients with sickle cell disease in Lango Sub-Region. The summit's outcomes are expected to inform strategies to improve awareness, access to testing and treatment, and long-term care for people living with sickle cell disease.
Key points
- Local production of hydroxyurea is expected to improve availability and affordability of the medicine for patients with sickle cell disease.
- Health stakeholders are calling for stronger regional leadership and increased public awareness to address the burden of sickle cell disease.
- The Ministry of Health plans to expand access to hydroxyurea through lower-level health facilities to bring treatment closer to patients in rural communities.
