PACTS Project Delivers Breakthroughs In Sickle Cell Care In Kumasi — All Six Facilities Now Offering Full Treatment

The Participatory Approaches to Support Patient‑centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Africa (PACTS) project has recorded major gains in Kumasi, with sickle cell patients now accessing Hydroxyurea, Penicillin prophylaxis and blood transfusion across all six participating health facilities — a sharp improvement from previous years.

Professor Alex Osei‑Akoto, PACTS Country Lead, shared the progress at a learning session in Kumasi, noting that the project—implemented at KATH, Kumasi South Hospital, Manhyia Government Hospital, Asokwa Children’s Hospital, KNUST Hospital and the Maternal & Children’s Hospital at Adum—has transformed treatment access for patients.

Hydroxyurea Access Expanded Across Kumasi

Prof Osei‑Akoto revealed that before the intervention, only KATH provided Hydroxyurea, forcing patients from other facilities to travel there for medication.

“With the programme in place, the teams have come up with solutions and currently, all the facilities have access to all medications, catered for by the National Health Insurance Scheme.”

He added that all institutions have now mastered how to reconstitute Hydroxyurea capsules into suspension for children, eliminating a major barrier in paediatric care.

Waiting Time Slashed From 4 Hours To 1.5 Hours

Another milestone is the drastic reduction in waiting time for sickle cell patients at KATH’s pharmacy.

“Patients used to wait about four hours. Now it’s down to one and a half hours.”

Communities Becoming More Aware, Stigma Declining

Prof Osei‑Akoto said community awareness has improved significantly, with stigma against sickle cell patients reducing as education spreads.

A Model For National Policy

He believes the findings will guide the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service in scaling up interventions nationwide.

“These are global standards. The expectation is that these institutions will continue helping patients in terms of accessibility.”

Sustainable Mining Of Knowledge: Skills, Research And Innovation

The hydrologist stressed that Ghana’s long‑term fight against sickle cell complications must include investment in skills development, research and improved technologies.

About PACTS

PACTS is a multi‑country research collaboration aimed at improving sickle cell outcomes across Africa. It is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with partners including:

• KNUST

• 
  Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

• University of Abuja

• 
  University of Zambia
• 
  University Health College, London

• Syracuse University, USA