Dr. Cheedy Jaja with child with SCD—- Team at the first SCD Screening Clinic
Over the past year, a team of dedicated international professionals has been meeting regularly by Zoom to develop a Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Clinic in Bo. Even though SCD is a common inherited disorder affecting 1-2% of newborns in Sierra Leone, no clinic has ever existed in the Southern Province, Bo District and Tikonko Chiefdom, where RHCI is located.
The team is proud to announce the opening of the Lillian Hawa Stevens Memorial Sickle Cell clinic at Mercy Methodist Hospital in August 2025, under the direction of Dr. Morie Vandi. The clinic is named after the sister of Dr. Aruna Stevens (also a Mercy Hospital doctor), who died as a teenager of SCD complications. RHCI is transporting 20 patients monthly from the Tikonko Chiefdom to receive medical services at the clinic. Patients are seen on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the clinic, and hospitalized at Mercy Hospital, if seriously ill.
A chronic illness that is inherited through a specific gene from both parents, Sickle Cell Disease (also called Sickle Cell Anemia) occurs primarily in people of African descent. Most Americans are not familiar with SCD, but in Sierra Leone, 20% of people are carriers and can pass it on to their children. 1-2% of babies are born with SCD in Sierra Leone, and without treatment, 90% die before the age of 5. Of note, people who are carriers (Sickle Cell Trait) have some protection against malaria, while those with SCD do not. However, they can pass the gene on to their children. To develop SCD, a child must inherit the gene from both parents.
This genetic inherited disorder causes the hemoglobin to be abnormal in the red blood cells, deforming into the shape of a sickle and reducing the oxygen that the cells can deliver to the rest of the body. This leads to painful episodes (pain crises), anemia, major organ dysfunction over time, as well as an increased susceptibility to serious infections.
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Testing the children at Mercy Hospital. Children waiting with their Caregivers
The collaboration working together to develop this program/clinic included the following:
- Staff of Bo Mercy Methodist Hospital, with Dr. Morie Vandi as lead
- Rural Health Care Initiative, including Carol Nelson and Neneh Vandy
- Dr. James Taylor, Director of the Howard University SCD program,
- Healey International Relief Foundation, (Josephine Garnem)
- Dr. Fritjoj Schmidt, from Germany and St. John’s hospital in Lunsar,
- Dr. Cheedy Jaja, a Doctor of Nurse Practitioner, who has devoted his life to expanding care for patients with SCD, along with his research team from the University of South Florida and the Sickle Cell Research and Advocacy Initiative in Sierra Leone.
As of November 6, 60 children with SCD have been enrolled in the clinic and are having monthly visits for preventive care. A key feature of the clinic is the use of Hydroxyurea (HU), a medication that is standard treatment for SCD, but is unavailable in most of Sierra Leone. Research studies have shown it is safe to use in Africa, and that it reduces infections, pain, and improved longevity. Hydroxyurea was obtained through the assistance of Dr. Fritjof, a German orthopedic doctor who operates a SCD clinic in Lunsar, Sierra Leone (located 3 hours northwest of Bo.)
After as little as one month of therapy (which includes HU, folic acid, Penicillin, immunization updates, pain meds, malaria meds if infected), and education of caregivers and patients, the patients are showing significant improvement, with fewer pain crises, increased hemoglobin levels, and more energy.
This collaboration continues to meet monthly and hopes to expand the clinic over time to include many more children and young adults with SCD. Current funding is through Mercy Hospital and private donations. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in supporting this clinic, or has a connection to experts in the field of SCD, please contact Dr. Carol Nelson at carolnelson855@gmail.com.
RHCI is proud to be a partner in this effort to improve the future for children with Sickle Cell Disease in Sierra Leone.
