‘2m children born with sickle cell in Nigeria yearly’

[Mirror]

More than two million children are born with sickle cell in Nigeria annually.

The National Secretary, Nigerians' Forum on Haemoglobin Disorders in the United Kingdom, Dr. Baba Inusa, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, at an event to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day.

He said: "In the country, we are aware that Nigeria probably has between two and three million people with sickle cell disease.

"The reason we know this is that at birth, in a new born baby, if you have to look at new born population and you test them, you find out that two out of a hundred will have sickle cell disease.

"In a year, about 100,000 babies are born with the disease; between 100,000 and 150,000. So, Nigeria has the largest number (in the world) by every imagination. But, that is an opportunity for us to do something about it."

Also at the event, the founder of the Nigerian Sickle Cell Disease Network, NSCD, who is Katsina State governor's wife, Fatima Shema, called for increased public sensitisation in checking the spread of the disease.

She also appealed to all tiers of government in the country to show greater commitment to drastically reduce the burden of the disease.

In an address, the Chairman, Department of Paediatrics, Kuwait University, Prof. Adekunle Adekile, said: "It is estimated that 500,000 are born every year with this severe and invalidating condition and that 50 per cent of them will die before the age of five years.

"While it is not limited to Africans, the disease is indeed more of a legacy of the Black race, the mutation responsible for which has been sustained because individuals with sickle cell trait are protected against the scourge of malaria in early childhood.

"Therefore, SCD is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and indeed, Nigeria has the greatest burden in the world because 19 of every 1,000 babies in the country are born with the disease while the trait is present in 25 to 30 per cent.

"The disease, present in early infancy is chronic; the most common features being the recurrent severe generalised pain, anaemia and infections.

"Some patents would later develop stroke, debilitating bone complications and other chronic organ failure syndromes."

According to him, the proven way to reduce the suffering and mortality from the disease is increasing awareness in the society, early diagnosis and dedicated, comprehensive medical care.

Pre-marital and genetic counselling, he said, were necessary for better understanding of the disease and potential reduction of its incidence.

National Mirror