Sickle Forward is proud to partner with in-country leaders in Cameroon to expand access to early diagnosis and life-saving care for children with sickle cell disease. As part of our network across eight African nations, our Cameroon program is building sustainable screening and treatment systems where they are needed most.
Sickle Forward's work in Cameroon is part of a large-scale newborn and early childhood screening initiative across eight countries in Africa[reference:1]. Through trusted partnerships with experienced in-country leaders who understand the local health system and maintain strong connections with national and regional healthcare leadership, we are building sustainable systems that can reach more children where they are born and live[reference:2].
Sickle Cell Disease is a major public health challenge in Cameroon, affecting thousands of children and families across the country.
Approximately 2% of the population is affected by sickle cell disease, and 20-25% are carriers of the trait[reference:3][reference:4].
An estimated 7,000 children are born with sickle cell disease in Cameroon every year[reference:5].
Sickle Forward's point-of-care screening approach is designed to work in real-world settings, including remote and resource-limited environments where traditional laboratory infrastructure may not be available[reference:6].
Rapid lateral flow test providing results in as little as 10 minutes[reference:7].
Rapid point-of-care test used across partner sites[reference:8].
Miniaturized electrophoresis platform for confirmatory testing[reference:9].
Together, these tools create a practical, scalable, and decentralized model for early diagnosis, helping ensure that screening leads directly to timely care and life-saving treatment[reference:10].
Sickle Forward's goal is to ensure that every infant diagnosed with sickle cell disease is rapidly linked to life-saving treatment[reference:11].
Critical intervention for children with SCD[reference:12].
Protecting children from life-threatening infections[reference:13].
Access to this life-saving treatment[reference:14].
We promote care models that leverage existing primary health care networks and community health workers to keep children connected to ongoing treatment close to home[reference:15].
Awareness and sensitization events are essential to the success of newborn and early childhood screening partnerships because they build trust, improve understanding of sickle cell disease, and help families recognize the importance of early diagnosis and follow-up care[reference:16].
By pairing screening with education, Sickle Forward and its partners help reduce stigma and support long-term participation in care[reference:17].
Your support helps us expand screening services, deliver diagnostic tools, train healthcare workers, and connect children to life-saving care across Cameroon.
Tax Deductible · 100% of proceeds go to Sickle Forward's programmes
