GeneBridge

SALTED HEALTH FOUNDATION

GeneBridge

Bridging gaps in newborn screening for sickle cell disease

Accra, Ghana

Ghana

Nonprofit

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Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) remains one of the most underdiagnosed and fatal childhood illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa, despite being manageable with early detection. In Ghana, where over 16,000 babies are born with SCD each year, less than 5% receive timely newborn screening. Most are diagnosed only after presenting in crisis—often too late. This delay contributes to a staggering childhood mortality rate, where 50–90% of infants with severe SCD die before their fifth birthday. The root problem is Ghana’s dependence on centralized lab-based screening systems, unsustainable plans, and funding. These are inaccessible to many hospitals, particularly in rural areas, due to cost, distance, and slow turnaround times. As a result, countless newborns slip through the cracks. SALTED Health Foundation addresses this access gap by delivering fast, decentralized, point-of-care screening directly to maternity units and underserved communities. We aim to transform SCD diagnosis from a privilege of geography to a right for every newborn, ensuring that no baby dies because they were born too far from a lab.

Our solution, GeneBridge, is a decentralized, community-led newborn sickle cell screening and care model that brings early detection, education, and care coordination directly to the point of birth. We train and deploy nurses, midwives, and frontline health workers to conduct rapid point-of-care sickle cell screening in maternity clinics and community health facilities. Using affordable, portable diagnostic tools with results ready in under 10 minutes, we bypass the long delays and high costs of centralized laboratory testing. Once a child is diagnosed, families are linked immediately to structured care pathways—including genetic counseling, preventive education, hydroxyurea therapy, and reproductive health services for caregivers. GeneBridge is designed for sustainability and scale. We implement a train-the-trainer model, work with government agencies, and build partnerships with local health systems to ensure long-term integration. Our digital system enables real-time data tracking, case follow-up, and remote consultation to support retention and patient outcomes. Most importantly, our solution is human-centered. It acknowledges that early screening is not enough—families need clear information, trusted support, and continued access to care. GeneBridge transforms that possibility into practice for thousands of children born into otherwise overlooked communities.

GeneBridge serves newborns, mothers, and families in low-resource and underserved communities across Ghana—particularly those beyond the reach of centralized health systems. These are the children most at risk of delayed sickle cell diagnosis, avoidable health crises, and early death. Our primary beneficiaries are newborns at community clinics and hospitals without access to laboratory-based screening. We also serve pregnant women, mothers with children living with SCD, and couples planning families who benefit from genetic counseling and education. Many of these families live on less than $3 a day and cannot afford the long travel or hidden costs of delayed care. By offering early screening, immediate linkage to care, and psychosocial support, GeneBridge provides families with the tools to act early and prevent irreversible harm. Mothers gain confidence, clarity, and power in understanding their child’s condition. Children identified early have a far greater chance of surviving, thriving, and attending school free of constant crisis. Beyond individual families, our work empowers healthcare providers with skills, tools, and follow-up systems they’ve never had before. In doing so, GeneBridge strengthens the health system from the bottom up—one child, one mother, and one nurse at a time.