Left Behind : Forgotten Faces Of An Inadequate Health System

In Kenya the ‘big 4’ NCDS of cancers, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are prioritised but other diseases are left behind due to lack of funding and data. One such neglected disease whose patients are left behind with regards to policies, health systems, budgetary allocation and data, is Sickle Cell.

The 10003 Warrior Project is an unprecedented photo documentary of people living with Sickle Cell. A total of 400 monochrome portraits and oral narrative experiences were taken and recorded from remote Sickle Cell prevalent communities in Kenya; Taveta, Mumias and Busia. Of the 400 (70% children 12 or under) 200 stated they lacked access to pain management medication, only 5% have access clinical treatment for Sickle Cell and 100% of the patients have no access to basic health insurance. The findings indicate the massive gaps in health systems around Sickle Cell and the burden patient bear because of these gaps.

These images were collected by Lea Kilenga Masamo (photographer Paul Masamo) who is the founder and Executive Director of Africa Sickle Cell Organization, a non- profit advocacy organisation.