NNHF Project of the Year 2026: East Africa’s coalition to expand access to bleeding and blood disorders care
The NNHF is proud to recognise the second East Africa project, a coordinated effort across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, as the NNHF Project of the Year 2026. The project unites four countries around a shared goal: expanding access to care for people living with haemophilia and sickle cell disease (SCD). The collaboration demonstrates what becomes possible when partner organisations work as one, learning from each other, sharing strengths, and executing activities with consistent quality and reporting.
Turning collaboration into measurable impact
Across the region, the project has driven improvements in diagnosis and access to care. Within two years, the programme supported the diagnosis of 538 new people with haemophilia, increasing the diagnosis rate by an average of 25% across participating countries, ranging from 19.6% in Uganda to 35.7% in Rwanda.
Reducing time barriers to care
In a practical and patient-centred step, the East Africa project helped establish or strengthen 28 clinics across the four countries, 13 of which offer integrated care for both haemophilia and SCD.
For patients making a round trip from Mbarara to Kampala in Uganda, this work enabled a reduction of up to 10 hours in travel time to receive care, meaning fewer missed opportunities for early diagnosis, treatment initiation, and follow-up
Building sustainable training systems
The project’s achievements went beyond short-term activities by actively advancing sustainable training models for healthcare professionals.
Partnerships with medical training institutions aim to integrate haemophilia and SCD into curricula:
- In Kenya, the Kenya Haemophilia Association is collaborating with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) to develop and implement a curriculum on haemophilia and SCD. The initiative is underway, with the first student cohort enrolled in September 2025. Since KMTC trains 80% of Kenya’s healthcare professionals, the impact is positioned to scale.
- In Tanzania, the Haemophilia Society of Tanzania is engaging the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) to embed training and support capacity building.
- In Uganda, the Haemophilia Foundation of Uganda is in discussions with the Makerere College of Health Sciences to strengthen education pathways.
Strengthening advocacy through strategic partnerships
Alongside service delivery and workforce development, the East Africa project has also advanced advocacy by engaging key stakeholders and decision-makers in each country.
- In Uganda, the Ministry of Health has committed to allocating a budget for essential treatments and reagents, with Mulago National Referral Hospital, Lira Regional Referral Hospital, and Kawempe National Referral Hospital already provided for reagents.
- In Kenya, the project team presented the burden of bleeding disorders and SCD in parliament through a motion calling for greater national government focus, including funding for treatment and diagnosis. As a result, National Social Health Insurance Scheme expansion includes SCD and selected advanced treatments, such as red cell exchange. Advocacy efforts continue to include haemophilia within future government support.
- In Rwanda, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre has shown leadership by developing and endorsing treatment guidelines and creating a national patient registry, strengthening both standardisation and long-term tracking of patients.
A coalition defined by teamwork and shared learning
Across all these efforts, the project’s strongest foundation is the partnership itself. The team spirit across the four countries, marked by a willingness to learn from one another and support each other’s strengths, has helped drive high-quality reporting and effective delivery of activities. Read the full project report here.
The project has now entered a third phase, which will strengthen infrastructure for haemophilia and SCD care, covering in-country training, improved diagnosis and further advocacy advancements to ensure sustainable progress.
Congratulations to all partners and stakeholders involved in the East Africa project!
About the NNHF Project of the Year Award
This annual award recognises a NNHF project that has demonstrated outstanding commitment, excellent project management, sustainable impact and stakeholder involvement. Find out more here.
