The Number of Children Born With Sickle Cell Anemia Annually In Nigeria Will Shock You
A new report has shown an alarming number of children who are born with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria.
The President of Sickle Cell Club, Mrs. Ayo Otaigbe, has revealed
that about 50,000 Nigerian children are born annually with symptomatic
Sickle Cell Anaemia, just as several of them do not survive beyond
infancy.
This Day reports that Otaigbe, who said this at the 2015 annual celebration of the Sickle Cell Club Lagos Nigeria, explained that the high death rate from the disease was due to lack of information on how to prevent or tackle it, as well as inappropriate care of patients.
This Day reports that Otaigbe, who said this at the 2015 annual celebration of the Sickle Cell Club Lagos Nigeria, explained that the high death rate from the disease was due to lack of information on how to prevent or tackle it, as well as inappropriate care of patients.
Adding, she said the disease was still not understood fully, which
makes it unresponsive to some drugs being marketed in the country.
"More research is needed to find a rational therapy for managing the crisis, beyond the use of analgesics, as sufferers still go through severe pain crisis. More importantly, we will continue to show and advocate that affected persons can live a normal and healthy life if they are well managed, thereby dispelling the myths, rumours and misinformation surrounding the condition," she said.
On the issue of stroke in sickle cell children known to impede mobility, she called on families to benefit from the Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound scan procedure which holds at the centre during week days.
She said: "Although Sickle Cell Disease is not only an Africa condition, over 80 per cent of affected children are born on the continent, yet Africa had shown indifference in addressing the issue," adding that Nigerians should make a difference and promote funding that will make meaningful research into the disease a reality.
She said that the club had, through its activities, continued to increase public awareness and knowledge of the disorder especially through the establishment of sickle cell clubs, partnering with the SCFN and other stakeholders. According to her, the focus for 2016 would be to consolidate the successes recorded in 2015 and increase the level of awareness.
"More research is needed to find a rational therapy for managing the crisis, beyond the use of analgesics, as sufferers still go through severe pain crisis. More importantly, we will continue to show and advocate that affected persons can live a normal and healthy life if they are well managed, thereby dispelling the myths, rumours and misinformation surrounding the condition," she said.
On the issue of stroke in sickle cell children known to impede mobility, she called on families to benefit from the Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound scan procedure which holds at the centre during week days.
She said: "Although Sickle Cell Disease is not only an Africa condition, over 80 per cent of affected children are born on the continent, yet Africa had shown indifference in addressing the issue," adding that Nigerians should make a difference and promote funding that will make meaningful research into the disease a reality.
She said that the club had, through its activities, continued to increase public awareness and knowledge of the disorder especially through the establishment of sickle cell clubs, partnering with the SCFN and other stakeholders. According to her, the focus for 2016 would be to consolidate the successes recorded in 2015 and increase the level of awareness.
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