Mavis Agnes Kisakye: Transforming Hemophilia Awareness in Uganda Through Community Engagement and Early Recognition
Mavis Agnes Kisakye, Health Officer, EVD Response at Uganda Red Cross Society, shared a post on LinkedIn:
”In many parts of the world, including Uganda, the story of a child with Haemophilia often begins with a whisper of ‘witchcraft.’
When a child experiences unexplained joint swellings or prolonged bleeding after a simple procedure, families are driven by deep-seated cultural beliefs and a desperate search for answers often turn first to traditional healers.
We hear the same testimonies time and again: families move from one healer to another, seeking a solution for what they believe is a spiritual affliction.
But when we ask the families, ‘Did it help? Did you find a solution?’, the answer is almost always a heartbreaking ‘No.’
By the time these children reach a Haemophilia Treatment Centre, they are often already facing permanent joint disability or life-threatening complications.
This is why HFU is changing the narrative.
Instead of operating in isolation, we are actively engaging the association of traditional healers and herbalists.
Our goal is simple: Equipping this influential group with knowledge.
By training thousands of traditional healers to recognize the clinical signs of bleeding disorders, we aren’t just debunking myths; we are building a referral highway.
When a healer understands that ‘prolonged bleeding’ requires a lab test, not a ritual, they become our most vital allies in early patient identification.
We believe that by merging cultural reach with medical truth, we can ensure every patient gets a swift referral to the care they truly need.
Special thanks to Novo Nordisk Haemophilia and Haemoglobinopathies Foundation (NNHF) for supporting these critical community engagements.”
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