Early Care Can Save Lives
In Homa Bay County, Kenya where an estimated 4–5% of children are born with sickle cell disease many still die from preventable complications before their fifth birthday. Not because treatment does not exist..
Care That Reaches Every Child
But because consistent care has been out of reach. The Shikuri Project is changing that. In formal partnership with Homa Bay County health leadership and Ndhiwa Sub-County Hospital, we have established the first locally anchored, comprehensive pediatric sickle cell program for this population built inside the public health system and designed to scale.
The solution to this issue
By bringing diagnosis, treatment, and continuous care close to where families live, we are turning a once-fatal condition into a manageable childhood illness.
Children who once lived in constant pain are now in school, playing, and growing.
Families no longer have to sell livestock, abandon work, or wait for the next medical emergency.
And for the health system, continuous care costs less than repeated hospitalizations making this model both life-saving and sustainable.
Every Child Deserves a Chance to Thrive
The Shikuri Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for children living with sickle cell disease in underserved communities. We were founded on a simple but urgent belief: that no child should die or suffer needlessly from a treatable condition because of where they are born and that proven solutions can save lives even in the most under-resourced settings.Our work combines compassion, clinical partnership, and practical action. We focus on early diagnosis, continuous treatment, family support, and community-based follow-up so that children with sickle cell disease can grow, learn, and thrive.Shikuri’s initial operations are based in Homa Bay County, Kenya, where sickle cell disease places a heavy burden on young children and their families. In close collaboration with local hospitals, clinicians, and community leaders, we support sickle cell screening, help establish specialized pediatric clinics, strengthen clinical monitoring, and improve access to essential medicines and preventive care.Our model emphasizes WHO-aligned treatment, reliable medication supply, laboratory monitoring, caregiver education, and regular follow-up. This integrated approach is designed not only to treat illness, but to prevent crises before they become life-threatening.Measured results from our enrolled child cohort show substantial reductions in hospitalizations, severe anemia, painful crises, and emergency complications with zero deaths recorded among participating children to date. These outcomes show that early, consistent, community-linked care can dramatically change the trajectory of sickle cell disease and demonstrate that effective, scalable solutions already exist.Beyond clinical care, The Shikuri Project advocates for scalable, cost-effective sickle cell programs and works with public health partners to support sustainable local capacity. Our next phase is to scale this model through national and private partnerships so that more children can access reliable, life-saving care. Our goal is not only to save lives today, but to help build systems that protect children for the long term.
Transforming Lives Through Care
Shikuri Project is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children living with sickle cell disease. Through compassionate care, early intervention, and strong community partnerships, we are creating lasting change for children and their families in Kenya.
our first clinic
how we work
We Bring Care Closer to Children
For rural families, distance is deadly. We establish local screening, diagnosis, and clinic services within the county hospital so children receive continuous care without traveling long, unaffordable distances.
We Deliver Continuous, Life-Saving Treatment
We ensure uninterrupted access to: WHO-recommended sickle cell medications Routine laboratory monitoring Individualized clinical follow-up Early-fever detection to prevent crises This transforms care from emergency response to prevention.
We Strengthen Not Replace the Public Health System
Shikuri is not a parallel NGO clinic. We work inside the county health system, equipping local facilities, supporting clinicians, strengthening supply chains, and building data for policy adoption and national scale. This makes the model locally owned, sustainable, and replicable.
We Walk With Families and Communities
Survival does not depend on medicine alone. We provide: Caregiver education Community health worker linkage Ongoing follow-up and support So children are treated early — before a crisis becomes fatal.
Our Vision
Every child with sickle cell disease no matter where they are born
should have the chance to survive, grow, and thrive.
The Shikuri Project is making that possible..
the problem we are solving
baby eric omondi
Eric is the only surviving child in his family.
Four siblings died before a diagnosis ever came.
Today he is alive because care finally exists close to home
A comprehensive approach to fighting sickle cell disease in Homa Bay, from diagnosis to treatment to community education
Clinics and Diagnosis
Local clinics screening children for sickle cell disease, enabling early detection and life-saving interventions.
Life-Saving Treatment
Access to hydroxyurea and essential medications that significantly reduce crises and improve quality of life.
Family Support and Education
Teaching parents and caregivers how to manage crises, recognize warning signs, and provide daily care.
Systems Change
Partnering with Homa Bay County health system to build sustainable infrastructure and policies.
our donation platform
Support Life-Saving Care for Children with Sickle Cell Disease
$39 per month
Provides life-saving medicines, monitoring, and clinic care for one child with sickle cell disease.
$120 per year
Funds hydroxyurea therapy for one child.
$350 per year
Provides a full year of comprehensive sickle cell care for one child.
$3,500 per year
Provides treatment for 10 children.
Why Your Support Matters
Without structured care:
Only 30–40% of children survive to age five.
With Shikuri care:
70–85% survive.
Your support helps ensure that hundreds of children reach school age and live full lives.
$39/month | $120/year | $350/year | $3,500/year
Every contribution expands life-saving care for
Every contribution helps us reach more children, provide more treatments, and train more healthcare workers. Together, we can reduce child mortality from sickle cell disease in Homa Bay.