KAMPALA – Over the past seven months, Absa Bank Uganda, in collaboration with Raising Hope International Friends (RHIF), has provided essential financial literacy training to 2,250 caregivers of individuals with sickle cell disease. This initiative is part of Absa’s commitment to empower 3,000 caregivers with critical financial skills by the end of 2023.
Since the partnership’s inception in March 2023, Absa Uganda and RHIF have assisted 1,125 families in Wakiso District. The program addresses the financial strain of sickle cell disease treatment, as affected households often struggle to plan for these expenses and rely heavily on out-of-pocket payments, leading to poor financial management.
Addressing Financial Challenges for Sickle Cell Caregivers
Peter Thaddeus Mboowa, Treasury Director for Absa Bank Uganda, emphasized the initiative’s goal to help caregivers manage household finances more effectively. “We started this journey in March to assist sickle cell caregivers in better managing their finances. Access to affordable, quality healthcare is a significant challenge in Uganda, and costs escalate when managing a child with sickle cell disease. Therefore, partnering with RHIF was a natural fit,” Mboowa explained.
Dr. Daniel Muyanja, Director of Clinical Services at the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC), highlighted that sickle cell disease is the most prevalent genetic disorder in Africa, with Uganda having one of the highest prevalence rates. Uganda ranks fourth in sub-Saharan Africa for sickle cell prevalence, following Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. In resource-limited countries like Uganda, where treatment options such as hydroxyurea are scarce, 80% of children with SCD do not reach adulthood, with many not surviving past age five without proper treatment.
Enhancing Financial and Health Outcomes
Isaac Okello, Executive Director of Raising Hope International Friends, stated, “This initiative aims to enhance financial awareness among caregivers of SCD patients and youths across Uganda. By improving their financial decision-making skills, we hope to achieve better household health outcomes and increase awareness of sickle cell disease. I thank Absa Bank Uganda for their support and encourage others to join in aiding our community members affected by SCD.”
Founded in 2016, Raising Hope International Friends (RHIF) is a local non-profit dedicated to breaking the sickle cell cycle through advocacy, research, and increased testing and screening services. RHIF also focuses on enhancing care and support for affected families, raising awareness about prevention, and reducing stigma and discrimination.
“I commend RHIF for their outstanding work in the sickle cell community and for allowing us to fulfill our mission of empowering Africa’s future, one story at a time,” concluded Absa’s Mboowa.
For more information, please visit Raising Hope International Friends and Absa Bank Uganda.
Keywords: Financial Literacy, Sickle Cell Disease, Caregivers, Uganda, Absa Bank, Raising Hope International Friends
Industry: Healthcare, Finance, Non-Profit, Education