Sickle Cell Disease is a serious inherited blood disorder that affects the shape of red blood cells, making it difficult for them to carry oxygen throughout the body. People with sickle cell disease go through excruciating pain crisis, and health complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, sometimes death.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects over 4.4 millions people across the world. SCD is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, India, and among people of African descent around the world. The world’s sickle cell burden occurs in sub-Saharan Africa where it poses significant health challenges due to limited access to screening and treatment.
About 25% of Ghanaians carry the sickle cell trait and an estimated 2-4% (~18,000) of Ghanaian infants are born yearly with SCD based on current prevalence rates. Unfortunately the majority of babies born in Ghana do not have access to screening. Without early detection and timely interventions 50-90% of these babies born with this debilitating disease (sickle cell disease (Hb SS-SCD)) will die before their 5th birthday.
Early detection and timely linkage to care, has proven to increase the survival rate of babies with SCD for a chance to live and thrive in society. Addressing the multifaceted impacts of SCD requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the medical and socio-economic dimensions of the disease.”
Early screening can mean the difference between life and death. Without diagnosis, children are often treated for unrelated illnesses, missing out on early interventions like:
With early diagnosis, 70–90% of children with SCD can live long, healthy lives.
Newborn screening is a simple test done shortly after birth to check for life-threatening but treatable conditions—including SCD. At SALTED Health, we use Point-of-Care (POC) rapid tests that provide results in under 10 minutes—on the spot, at the clinic.
We bring screening to the community. We:
At SALTED Health Foundation, we believe that every data point represents a life touched, a family empowered, and a future changed. Our numbers reflect more than metrics—they reflect momentum, hope, and a shared commitment to ending preventable deaths from Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
Without early diagnosis and care, more than 50–90% of these children die before age 5.
babies are born globally with SCD each year.
of them are born in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rural and low-resource communities face the highest risk of being missed.
Ghanaian babies are born with Sickle Cell Disease each year.
of babies have access to early screening and diagnosis.
100% of screened babies with SCD received counselling and were enrolled in care
newborns screened across 10 health facilities in Ashanti Region
individuals reached through education and outreach
We don’t just track numbers—we track lives saved, mothers comforted, futures protected.
Together, let’s turn data into dignity.
As part of our commitment to localized, sustainable healthcare delivery, SALTED Health is establishing community-based SALTED Health Centers focused on Sickle Cell screening, education, treatment, and long-term care. These centers serve as hubs for:
We currently operate 4 SALTED Health Centers in collaboration with public health facilities and local governments, ensuring services are embedded within existing health systems for long-term sustainability.
Future Plans:
We are scaling our model to establish SALTED Health Centers across all 16 regions of Ghana, starting with high-burden districts that lack access to timely diagnosis and care.
SALTED Health Centers are more than clinics—they are hubs of trust, education, and comprehensive care for families affected by sickle cell disease (SCD). Strategically embedded within existing maternal and child health infrastructure within communities, each center bridges the gap between early diagnosis and long-term support.
At every SALTED Health Center, we provide:
“Currently active in Ashanti, Bono East, Greater Accra Region and Volta Region—with more regions coming soon.”
Each center is a living promise: access without delay, support without stigma, and care that meets families where they are. We work hand-in-hand with local health systems, maternal and child health services, and community leaders to ensure our centers are accessible, trusted, and sustainable.
SALTED Health Centers are designed to scale—bringing equitable sickle cell care to more regions, one center at a time.
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