Accra: An 18-year-old junior high school student suffering from sickle cell anaemia is urgently appealing for financial support from the government, non-governmental organizations, agencies, and philanthropists. Kekeli Darkeh, the patient in question, has been unable to sit for his 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) due to severe health complications associated with his condition.
According to Ghana News Agency, Kekeli's father, Mr. William Darkeh, recounted the challenges faced by his son, starting with a critical health crisis on February 21, 2025. This crisis led to Kekeli's admission to Manna Mission Hospital where he was placed on oxygen support. After five days, a lung infection was discovered, necessitating his transfer to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) emergency ward for further treatment.
Once admitted at UGMC, Kekeli was first treated in the emergency unit before being moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for critical care. During treatment for the lung infection, his heart stopped but he was resuscitated. Kekeli spent a total of 45 days at UGMC, with 16 days in the ICU and 29 days in the neurological ward. He was diagnosed with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition that affects movement and speech due to inadequate oxygen reaching the brain.
Kekeli was discharged on April 16, 2025, with the family's medical bills totaling over GHs134,000. Although friends and family helped pay GHs101,400, a balance of GHs32,875.29 remains owed to the UGMC. The hospital waived half of this remaining debt, but the family is still struggling financially.
The family hired a 24-hour home nurse and a physiotherapist, but both have ceased their services due to unpaid sessions. Currently, the nurses attending to Kekeli are paid GHs800 every fortnight, adding to the family's financial strain alongside costs for medication, feeding, and electricity.
Mr. Darkeh explained that outstanding debt has made it difficult to activate Kekeli's hospital card, complicating access to past medical records and delaying necessary reviews. He emphasized the importance of community support and compassionate healthcare in managing sickle cell anaemia.
The family is appealing to the public, NGOs, and philanthropists for assistance in clearing the remaining medical debt and supporting ongoing care costs, including nursing, therapy, and medicines, to facilitate Kekeli's rehabilitation and potential recovery.
