Pediatric Sickle Cell Centre in Uganda

by Share Child Opportunity Eastern and Northen Uganda (SCOEN)

Project Report | Sep 15, 2026
A Dream on Hold, A Mission on the Line

By Lucas Haron Akol | Project Leader

It is with a mix of profound hope and deep concern that we present this progress report for the Pediatric Sickle Cell Centre. We have laid the entire foundation for a project that will transform the lives of children in our region—a first-of-its-kind sanctuary for those battling Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

However, we must be transparent. To date, we have successfully raised $41 of our $550,000 goal.

These funds, while given with immense generosity, are not enough to break ground, hire a single nurse, or purchase a single piece of diagnostic equipment. This report, therefore, is not a story of what we have built, but a testament to what we are ready to build. It is a story of a blueprint for hope, waiting for the fuel to bring it to life.

More Than a Clinic, A Lifeline

Our mission is clear and urgent: to reduce sickness and death from SCD in children, improve their quality of life, and empower their families. The Pediatric Sickle Cell Centre is the vehicle for this mission.

Imagine a place where a child in a pain crisis doesn't have to wait for hours in a general emergency room. A place where their care is not just about managing symptoms, but about holistic wellness. Our plan integrates:

Clinical Services: Expert diagnosis, treatment, and pain management.
Psychosocial Support: Counseling and support groups for children and families.
Genetic Counseling: Education to help families understand the disease and make informed decisions.
Community Outreach: Taking knowledge and screening into the community to find and help children early.

This centre will be a purpose-built, child-friendly facility—the first of its kind in the region. It will be a referral hub and a training centre for community health workers, creating a ripple effect of knowledge and care that will be felt for generations.

Progress to Date: The Engine is Built, But It's Idling

We have been incredibly busy, and our progress is substantial—but it's all in the planning and preparation phase. Think of it this way: we have designed, engineered, and assembled the entire engine. We have the blueprint, the permits, the expert team, and the location. But without fuel—without the necessary funding—that engine cannot start.

Here’s what we have accomplished with the $41 raised (which has been used for essential administrative costs):

Project Design & Planning: We have finalized the architectural concept for the centre, ensuring it is both functional for medical needs and comforting for children.
Stakeholder Engagement: We have secured the buy-in and support of local health authorities and community leaders, who recognize the urgent need for this centre.
Site Identification: A suitable location has been identified and negotiations are underway, contingent on securing the necessary funds.
Team Readiness: A dedicated team of medical and project management professionals is on standby, ready to begin work the moment funding is available.

What we have NOT been able to do:

Break ground on the site.
Procure any medical equipment or supplies.
Hire and train any clinical or support staff.
Launch any community outreach or screening programs.

Every critical activity is paused. We are, quite literally, at a standstill.

The Critical Gap & The Human Impact

The gap between our $41 and our $550,000 goal is more than just a number. It's the distance between a child in agony and a child at peace. It's the difference between a family feeling hopeless and a family feeling empowered.

Right now, in our district and neighboring areas:

Children are suffering from preventable complications of SCD.
Families are traveling long distances for fragmented care.
Many children are not even diagnosed until a severe crisis hits.
The educational attainment and quality of life for these children are being needlessly compromised.

This project is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The cost of inaction is measured in lost potential, in preventable suffering, and in young lives.

Urgent Appeal for Donation: Turn $41 into a Movement

We have the plan. We have the passion. We have the people. What we need now is you.

Your donation is not just a contribution to a project; it is a direct investment in a child's future. It is an act of faith that says, "I believe in a better world for these children."

We are asking for your help to take the first crucial steps:

A gift of $50 provides a full day of training for a community health worker.
A gift of $250 provides diagnostic testing kits for 10 newborns, enabling early, life-saving intervention.
A gift of $1,000 furnishes a comfortable, child-friendly consultation room.
A gift of $10,000 funds a month of essential pain management medications for the entire centre.
A major gift or pledge of $50,000 would allow us to break ground and begin construction immediately.

Every single dollar brings us closer. Your $5, $25, or $100, combined with others, is the fuel that will start this engine. It's the first brick in the wall of a new centre of excellence.

Please, help us move this project from a beautiful blueprint to a bustling reality. Help us turn our $41 into a foundation for hope.

Every child with Sickle Cell Disease deserves more than just a diagnosis. They deserve a future.

Thank you for your compassion and your support.

SCOEN Team

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May 26, 2026
Our first progress report

By Lucas Haron Akol | Project Leader

Dear friends,

Every year in Uganda, 20,000 babies are born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). In Bukedea District, families face exhausting journeys, fragmented care, and crushing costs. SCOEN is changing this narrative by building the region’s first dedicated Pediatric SCD Centre.

Progress to Date: The building’s foundation has been successfully completed. However, funds have run out, and construction is currently stalled at the foundation level. Walls, roofing, finishing, and medical installation remain unfinished.

This progressive report outlines what has been achieved, the critical funding gap, and the urgent next steps required to resume work and open the centre.

Imagine being a parent, knowing your child is in pain, and having nowhere to turn. In Eastern Uganda, this is the daily reality for thousands of families facing Sickle Cell Disease.

High burden: 20,000 babies born with SCD annually in Uganda.
No dedicated facility in Bukedea District – children travel over 100km for basic care.
Fragmented services lead to preventable deaths, chronic pain, and catastrophic family costs.

SCOEN exists to rebuild futures – giving children a chance at health, education, and life.

Despite limited resources, significant groundwork has been achieved. The centre is not imaginary – it is partially built.

Land Acquisition - Complete

Site Clearing & Excavation - Complete

Foundation Concrete Works - Complete: Hardcore, reinforcement, and concrete pouring finished.

Community Mobilization - Complete: Local leaders and families aware and supportive.

Architectural Drawings - Complete: Plans for consulting rooms, crisis bay, pharmacy, and family waiting area.

Current Physical State: The foundation is in place. It is a visible, solid start – but walls have not risen above ground level.

Current Challenges (Why We Are Stuck)

The Main Barrier: Lack of funds to continue.

Budget exhausted: Initia funds covered only land and foundation.
No walls or roof: The structure is vulnerable to weather; stalled construction risks deterioration.
No medical equipment or staff: Even if walls were up, we lack beds, oxygen, and trained nurses.

Funding gap identified: We need $37,000 USD to finish construction, install utilities, equip the clinic, and train initial staff.

"The building is still at foundation level. We need to finish, but there are no funds yet."

Phase 1: Masonry – raising walls to roofing level (blocks, cement, labor) $8,500 4 weeks

Phase 2: Roofing (iron sheets, timber, nails) $6,000 2 weeks

Phase 3: Plastering, flooring, windows, doors $5,000 3 weeks

Phase 4: Plumbing & electrical installation $4,000 2 weeks

Phase 5: Purchase of pediatric beds, infusion stands, oxygen concentrator $7,000 1 week

Phase 6: Recruitment & training of 2 SCD nurses $3,500 3 months (parallel)

Phase 7: Initial pharmacy stock (6 months: Hydroxyurea, Folic acid, Penicillin) $6,000 1 week

Contingency Transport, logistics, minor unforeseen costs $2,000 Ongoing

TOTAL To complete the centre & open doors $37,000 Approx. 4 months'

We cannot stop now. The foundation is laid – but without your help, it remains just a concrete slab in the ground.

Your generous contribution will:

Lay bricks and raise walls.

Train nurses to recognize a crisis early.

Purchase medication that costs pennies but saves lives.

Give a child in Bukedea their first pain-free school term.

How to help:

$50 – Buys penicillin for 10 children for one month.

$500 – Pays masons for one week to raise walls higher.

$5,000 – Buys the roof that keeps the rain off a child in crisis.

$37,000 – Completes the entire centre and opens doors.

"We are not just treating a disease; we are rebuilding futures."

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