Foundation moves to reduce sickle cell burden in Nigeria
In its bid to reduce the burden of sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria, the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) has organised a week ‘Train-the-Trainer’ (TOT) capacity building training programme for Radiologists/Paediatric Haematologists from all the geo-political zones of the country.
The intensive and hands-on training on the art and science of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) will help Identify sickle cell children who are at high risk of developing strokes as TCD facilities in Nigeria are not more than 3 in a large country with 36 semi-autonomous states.
According to statistics, over 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene (Hb AS), while over 150, 000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anemia ((Hb SS). This is by far the largest burden of the disorder anywhere in the world and most of these children would die in childhood because of ignorance and lack of access to correct diagnosis and proper care.
About 1 in 14 children with sickle cell anemia have a high risk of developing strokes (over or silent). This debilitating complication can impede their mobility or impair their intellectual ability.
In a statement made available to Daily Times by the Programme Coordinator of the foundation, Mr Ebenezer Adeleye said, the training kicked off on the 31st of August and the closing ceremony will hold on Wednesday 7th September 2016 at the National Sickle Cell Centre, Lagos.
“At the conclusion of the training, new TCD equipment will be given to representatives from each of the zones and they will in turn be expected to use the equipment provided to develop capacity on use of this equipment in their zones.
“This will result in: increased numbers of TCD Trainers; number of TCD Sonographers; six additional TCD centres across Nigeria, thereby increasing access to this facility; strengthening available database which can be available for further studies; integrating TCD screening into routine management of children with SCD,” Adeleye stated.
