By John Moses
Health experts in Nigeria have called for a stronger focus on prevention, public education, and genetic awareness to curb the spread of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), as the country continues to bear the highest global burden of the condition.
Speaking at a public lecture in Abuja on Tuesday, Professor Patricia Lar, Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), said that preventive strategies—particularly genetic compatibility before marriage—remain the most effective long-term approach to eradicating SCD in the country.
“By taking proactive steps in choosing life partners based on genotype compatibility, we can drastically reduce the incidence of sickle cell births,” Prof. Lar said in remarks delivered on her behalf by Prof. Titus Ibekwe, Provost of the College of Health Sciences.
The event, themed “The Evolving Therapeutic Landscape in Sickle Cell Disease”, was hosted by the Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRTA), in collaboration with the university’s health college.
While highlighting recent scientific advances—such as bone marrow transplants and gene therapy—Prof. Lar stressed that prevention remains the most realistic strategy for most Nigerians, given the cost and complexity of advanced treatment options.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Maureen Achebe of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, described SCD as a pressing public health issue in Nigeria, where 150,000 babies are born with the disease annually—half of all new cases in sub-Saharan Africa.
“These babies appear healthy at birth. That’s why newborn screening is critical to ensure early diagnosis and access to life-saving treatment,” Dr Achebe explained.
She pointed to alarming child mortality rates, with 50–80 per cent of affected children dying before age five, underscoring the urgent need for preventive vaccines, folic acid supplements, and protection against common infections.
While new therapies like hydroxyurea, gene editing, and transplants offer promise, Achebe emphasised that widespread access remains a challenge. She urged Nigerians to embrace genotype testing before marriage and called on the Nigerian government to prioritise newborn screening in national health policy.
Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, Director of CESRTA, announced the centre’s recent upgrade to the National Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training, following the 5th Global Congress on SCD.
“Through cutting-edge research and training, we are working to close the gap in SCD treatment and improve outcomes not just for Nigeria, but for affected populations globally,” she said.
