The Kenya Haemophilia Association (KHA) has appealed to the national and county governments to include funds for the treatment of haemophilia in the national health budget.
Board member James Kago expressed concerns over the country’s dependence on international donations, which are becoming increasingly scarce.
During the World Haemophilia Day event at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital, Kago highlighted the urgent need for local funding to sustain treatment and prevent patients from turning to unsafe alternatives.
Haemophilia is a serious bleeding disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly, leading to prolonged bleeding from even minor injuries or surgeries.
The treatment of the condition is expensive, and currently, more than 1,000 patients benefit from support provided by KHA through donations from organisations like the World Federation of Haemophilia and Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation.
"We have established 25 haemophilia treatment centres, but with donations drying up, the country is at risk of returning to unsafe treatments like plasma and whole blood transfusions," Kago said.
The country currently spends Sh2 billion every year on Haemophilia care, a cost that cannot be sustained without local funding.
Kago also pointed out that the cost of Haemophilia drugs is prohibitively expensive, with doses for children costing Sh50,000 and for adults, Sh300,000.
"It’s unfortunate that Haemophilia is not covered under the Social Health Authority," he said, calling on the government to include the condition under the scheme to make it more affordable for families.
While Kago appreciated the government's decision to waive taxes on Haemophilia drugs, he emphasised that this is not enough.
He urged the government to ensure a regular supply of clotting factor concentrates and to equip healthcare facilities to diagnose and treat haemophilia effectively.
"We also need to train healthcare workers in diagnosing and managing Haemophilia," he added.
Judy Mwaura, the nurse in charge of the Haemophilia Clinic at Murang’a Level 5 Hospital, echoed the need for better accessibility to treatment.
She mentioned that many patients travel long distances to receive care and suggested that more Haemophilia clinics be established in other health facilities to ease the burden on patients.
Kago also highlighted the importance of screening and diagnosing women with bleeding disorders.
"Some women with prolonged menstrual bleeding may have Haemophilia, but are unaware of it," he explained.