A major partnership between the NGO Drep.Afrique and the Porteo Foundation will provide vital medical care to a thousand Senegalese children suffering from sickle cell disease. With a budget of approximately 118 million CFA francs, this solidarity initiative aims to transform the daily lives of these young patients.

Facilitating access to life-saving treatment

Received on June 18, 2026, at the headquarters of the Porteo Foundation in Abidjan-Plateau, Robert Hue, honorary president of Drep.Afrique, outlined the scope of this initiative. The main objective is to democratize access to hydroxyurea , the reference medication for regulating this genetic disease.

"We organize care and ensure patient support," Mr. Hue emphasized.

A matter of survival for African youth

Sickle cell disease remains a major scourge on the continent: without appropriate treatment, nearly half of children affected by a severe form die before the age of 5. However, the situation changes dramatically thanks to regular medical monitoring combined with the use of hydroxyurea, which drastically reduces complications and the mortality rate.

To ensure the long-term viability of this project, a local production strategy has been implemented:

1. Local partnership: The medicine is produced directly with a Senegalese laboratory.
2. Cost divided: The treatment now comes at an affordable price of around 3,000 to 3,300 FCFA (4.5 to 5 euros) per month , thus breaking the financial barrier for modest families.

A vision of solidarity and sustainability

The president of the Porteo Foundation, Emmanuel Kalou, recalled that this commitment is part of a broader ambition to support child health policies in Africa.

For her part, Danuta Pieter, an international philanthropy expert, praised the "concrete and sustainable" nature of this program, while recalling that victory against sickle cell disease rests on a dual pillar: the availability of medicines and the continuing education of healthcare professionals.