By Shafa’atu Suleiman
Professor Obiageli Nnodu, Director of the Center of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRTA), has called on the Federal Government and policymakers to create a budget allocation to help tackle sickle cell disease in the country.
Nnodu made the call Thursday, in Gwagwalada at the Sickle Pan African Consortium (SPARC-NEt) NigEria Network Interactive and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop between researchers and sickle cell patients to improve care.
She said the goal of the workshop was to engage critical stakeholders, patients, caregivers, health workers, policymakers and the media on the nature of sickle cell disease.
According to her, the workshop also aimed to determine the challenges patients face in accessing care and how best to provide services and actively follow up at SPARC-NEt site clinics.
“Sickle cell disease is very prevalent in Nigeria, according to the 2018 National Demographic Survey, 20% of children aged 6-59 months have SCT (HbAS) and 2% have Hemoglobin C trait (HbAC).
“Sickle cell disease is a debilitating condition that can lead to serious health problems such as pain, organ damage or failure, infection, stroke, headache, liver problems and many others.
“The government should have a budget allocation for sickle cell disease starting with newborn screening and there should be legislation supporting National Health Insurance for sickle cell patients.
“There should be a budget for sickle cell disease research and new mothers in the country should also take newborn sickle cell screening seriously to lead a healthy life,” he said.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that World Sickle Cell Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to raise awareness of sickle cell disease and its cure.
Nnodu said the burden of sickle cell disease could be controlled and prevented if people make informed decisions based on their knowledge of the genotype before marriage.
The expert added that sickle cell disease remains a major public health problem in the country, especially in rural areas due to the low level of awareness.
However, she also advised parents to provide their children with health education at an early age to help them make informed decisions about the dangers associated with sickle cell disease for a healthy life.
Okpanachi Easter, a 22-year-old sickle cell patient, thanked the organizers for the workshop and urged the government to create a health insurance plan for sickle cell patients in the country.
