By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
A sickle cell warrior, Samuel Frimpong, says that he has lived with the pain of the disease since childhood and is now navigating life both as a person with sickle cell disease, SCD, and as a physically challenged person following a leg amputation in 2012.
Frimpong shared his experience as part of efforts to raise awareness about the realities faced by people living with SCD in Ghana. According to him, the condition has shaped his entire life.
“I’ve been battling sickle cell since childhood and I’ve been in pain throughout my life,” he said. “…sickle cell has also led me to become a physically challenged person.”
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show during a discussion on sickle cell awareness, Frimpong said a severe complication resulted in the loss of his leg more than a decade ago. “I had a chronic leg ulcer which was called gangrene and needed to be amputated and that was way back in 2012,” he explained. “…so, I’m not only sickle cell and at the same time as a physically challenged person,” Frimpong added.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickle-shaped. The abnormal cells can block blood flow, leading to episodes of severe pain, known as vaso-occlusive crises, as well as chronic complications affecting multiple organs.
Chronic leg ulcers are a known complication of sickle cell disease. Poor circulation, recurrent tissue damage from sickling, and delayed healing can cause ulcers, often on the lower limbs. In severe cases, infection and tissue death, or gangrene, can necessitate amputation to prevent life-threatening complications.
Speaking on the programme, Chief Executive Officer of the Simona Ephraim Foundation, Larry Mensah, said the foundation—of which Samuel Frimpong is a member—has developed a mobile application to support people living with sickle cell disease.
He said the app will provide digital support for people living with sickle cell disease by offering preliminary guidance before they seek medical care.
According to him, the app will be available on the Play Store within the next week or two.
