Professor Nnodu Obiageli, the Director Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training, University of Abuja, says that an estimated 150, 000 babies were born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. He made this statement during the launch of the Consortium on New Babies Screening in Africa (CONSA) in Abuja. Many of the affected children do not live for five years due to lack of access to standard diagnostic test and maximum care in Nigeria
However, an expert in Maiduguri, Mala Alhaji Baba, says that the statement made by Professor Nnodu is purely a blood disorder. “Blood works for 120 to 130 days in babies before it spoils and then new blood replaces it. Instead of blood to work for 120 days in babies, it only works for less than 20 days and that is why the babies become unhealthy physically.”
He went on to say that the best way to avoid sickle cell disease is by undergoing a genotype test before marriage; failure to undergo the test will result in economic and financial problems because the chances of giving birth to babies with sickle cell disease are high.
And he added that most people today in Nigeria, particularly in Borno state, are battling with what to eat let alone buying medicines for their children who are suffering from sickle cell disease.
“Most villagers do not know about coming to the hospital and they are giving traditional medicines to their sick children sometimes killing them from ignorance.”
Finally he called on people to bring babies who are born with sickle cell disease to hospital for treatment and pleaded with the government to declare free treatment for sickle cell disease in the country.
