In a powerful show of compassion and community care, over 200 sickle cell warriors in Kisumu County benefited from a free medical camp organized by ZUWI Afya CBO as part of a build-up event for World Sickle Cell Disease Warriors Day, marked annually on June 19.
The event, held at ZUWI Afya’s office grounds in Kisumu over the weekend, featured a blend of health services and edutainment activities aimed at raising awareness and breaking stigma surrounding sickle cell disease. More than 150 warriors received free treatment, medication, HIV testing, sickle cell screening, and enrolled in the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, with caregivers urged to register for continued access to care.
“Our main thematic area is health, and while we don’t ignore other conditions, today our focus is on sickle cell. We’re offering a wide range of services including lab tests, HIV testing, and SHA registration,” said ZUWI Afya CBO CEO Lilly Webala.
She added: “Above all, we have a fashion show because we want to show the community that these warriors are just like me and you strong, beautiful, and deserving to be celebrated.”
Webala, a trained medical practitioner, emotionally recounted how the journey began. She was moved into action by Conceptor Munyasa, the mother of a sickle cell warrior named Favour. Munyasa had cared for Webala’s children for more than a decade, even while struggling to secure oxygen and treatment for her daughter.
“That touched me deeply,” Webala said. “I saw the pain, the urgency, the reality of what it means to raise a child living with sickle cell. That was the beginning of this mission.”
Favour, now 15, from Kakamega, described Webala as her “God-sent mother,” saying the care she has received under the program has given her hope and strength.
The event also featured partnerships with other community-based organizations working on related causes. Dreams Redefined, through its Menstrual Hygiene Management pillar, distributed reusable and disposable sanitary towels and delivered reproductive health education.
“Sickle cell warriors face many intersecting challenges , menstruation is one of them. We’re here to break the stigma and equip them with the knowledge and dignity kits they need to menstruate with confidence,” said Ivone Ogola, Director of Dreams Redefined CBO.
Ogola emphasized the importance of sexual reproductive health education, stating, “These warriors are women and men with aspirations and rights. We empower them to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.”
Emily Aketch, the founder of Universal CBO, which supports persons living with limb loss, joined the initiative to provide psychosocial and mental health support to warriors who have suffered amputations due to complications.
“Some sickle cell warriors live with physical disabilities. We are here to remind them that they are not forgotten. Our organization, which currently supports 195 individuals, ensures they receive emotional and psychological support,” said Aketch.
Themed Health4All, the event combined compassion, education, and empowerment, setting the tone for a broader conversation as Kenya joins the world in commemorating Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19.
