Lea is a patient advocate making sickle cell a global health priority. The Africa Sickle Cell Organization is a grassroots non-profit improving access to equitable sickle cell care in rural, resource poor communities in Kenya and Africa. Her work is inspired by her experience living with sickle cell. She was raised in a family where 3 of 4 children had sickle cell disease (SCD). Lea understands the disease burden and the areas to leverage to reduce unnecessary suffering. She has contributed to the creation of the national guidelines for management and control of sickle cell in Kenya, SCD newborn policy and programs that ensure access to equitable sickle cell care for marginalized communities in Kenya.
Her dedication to inclusion of patients in global health decision making response led to her appointment to the Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Alliance, “Our Views, Our Voices” Global Advisory committee. Lea is a recognized Sickle Cell Champion and has received an award from Kenya’s president H. E Uhuru Kenyatta, for improving sickle cell care in Kenya. She currently works closely with the WHO to advance meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs in global NCD response and the global prioritization of SCD. Lea’s favorite things are African blues music, chakacha dance and the warm ocean waters.