Cameroonian Sickle Cell Advocate Marie-Claire Kofi Awarded Honorary Fellowship in UK
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon (CNA) -Cameroonian-born health advocate Marie-Claire Kofi has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom in recognition of her contribution to healthcare, community service and support for people living with sickle cell disease.
Kofi, founder and chief executive of the UK charity Plasma of Hope, received the honour during the university’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 29. The Fellowship recognizes her work supporting individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease, thalassaemia, stroke and related health conditions, as well as her efforts to improve healthcare education and inclusive community services.
Living with sickle cell disease herself, Kofi survived a stroke during a severe sickle cell crisis, an experience she says exposed shortcomings in emergency care and professional understanding of the condition. Rather than allowing the ordeal to define her, she established Plasma of Hope during the COVID-19 pandemic to help patients navigate healthcare and access emotional, educational and practical support.
The charity now serves communities across England’s West Midlands, providing health education, advocacy, mental health support, youth programmes and assistance with housing, welfare and public services. During the 2024–2025 reporting year, it directly supported more than 500 people, reached over 15,000 through awareness campaigns and assisted more than 100 families through its Community Fridays initiative.
A radiographer by profession, Kofi also works with the University of Wolverhampton to strengthen healthcare education by sharing her lived experience with students and supporting community placements for physiotherapy trainees. She said her goal is to ensure healthcare professionals better understand sickle cell disease before patients arrive in crisis.
University officials praised her commitment to improving healthcare and expanding equitable access to care. Professor Anand Pandyan, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, described her as a deserving recipient whose work has made a significant impact within communities.
Kofi also hopes to use the recognition to strengthen advocacy for children affected by sickle cell disease and to expand partnerships between the United Kingdom and Africa, including Cameroon, where she also supports community initiatives through the Bravelife Foundation.
Accepting the Fellowship, she dedicated the honour to people living with sickle cell disease, their families and the volunteers who have supported her journey, saying the award marked “not a conclusion, but a beginning.”
