Sickle cell patient appeals for financial assistance

An 18-year-old junior high school (JHS) student with sickle cell anaemia is appealing for financial assistance and support from the government, non-governmental organisations, agencies, and philanthropists. 

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr William Darkeh, the father of Kekeli Darkeh, the 18-year-old sickle cell anaemia patient, noted that Kekeli, who was to sit for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), could not do so due to a severe health crisis linked to his sickle cell anaemia status. 

Mr Darkeh stated that the ordeal began on February 21, 2025, when Kekeli suffered a serious crisis, leading to his admission at Manna Mission Hospital. 

He explained that struggling to breathe, he was promptly placed on oxygen support, and after five days, medical evaluations revealed a lung infection, prompting a referral to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) emergency ward. 

He added that on admission at UGMC, Kekeli was first managed in the emergency unit before moving to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critical care. 

“Tragically, during treatment for the lung infection, his heart stopped beating – a perilous moment from which he was fortunately resuscitated.” 

Mr Darkeh revealed that Kekeli spent a total of 45 days at UGMC, comprising 16 days in ICU and 29 days in the neurological ward, where doctors diagnosed him with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, which is paralysis impacting movement and speech caused by inadequate oxygen reaching the brain areas controlling motor and communication functions. 

He added that he was discharged on April 16th, 2025, and sent home via an ambulance, with him on a stretcher, causing their medical bills to exceed GHs134,000, adding that with the help of friends and family, an amount of GHs101,400 was paid, leaving a balance of GHs 32,875.29 owed to the UGMC. 

He further said they appealed to UGMC’s directorate to waive part of the debt, explaining financial exhaustion and caring for Kekeli and family needs, which the hospital considered and waived half of the remaining debt. 

He said the family was facing care challenges, as it hired a 24-hour home nurse and a physiotherapist who have all stopped their sessions with Kekeli due to the family’s inability to pay their agreed payment for the sessions. 

“The current nurses who attend to him daily for two weeks are paid GHs800 every fortnight, and now medication, feeding, and electricity have added further substantial costs,” Mr. Darkeh lamented. 

He further revealed that hospital card activation has become a persistent struggle for the family due to outstanding debt, which makes it difficult for doctors to access past records, delaying Kekeli’s reviews. 

He said that the reflection of Kekeli’s plight has highlighted the complexities of managing sickle cell anaemia, the vital role of community support, and healthcare compassion amid all the crises. 

He therefore appealed to the public, NGOs, and philanthropists to help them clear the outstanding medical bill at UGMC and support ongoing care costs, including nursing, therapy, and medicines, and also enable Kekeli’s rehabilitation for a chance at restored wellbeing. 

Source: GNA