The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) has called for stronger collaboration among government bodies, private organisations, and international partners to stem the tide of sickle cell disorder (SCD)-related deaths across the country.
Speaking during a press conference held to commemorate the 2025 World Sickle Cell Day at the National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos, the National Director of the Foundation, Dr. Annette Akinsete, described the situation as a “national emergency,” citing that Nigeria accounts for 25 percent of global SCD cases.
With 150,000 babies born annually with the condition and over 100,000 dying before the age of five, Akinsete stressed that reversing the grim statistics would require a multi-pronged and united effort.
“While we have made significant progress using an integrated approach, the goal of reducing SCD births and under-five deaths by 80 percent before 2030 cannot be achieved without unprecedented partnerships,” she said.
Themed “Access to New Therapies – Hope or Hype?” this year’s commemoration challenges the inclusivity of breakthrough treatments. Akinsete raised critical questions on whether the latest medical interventions such as gene therapies and bone marrow transplants are accessible to the broader population or reserved for a privileged few.
“Will the benefits of science reach the creeks of Bayelsa or the deserts of Borno? Or will they remain confined to headlines in medical journals?” she asked. “We refuse to accept hope without access.”
Citing recent success stories, Akinsete shared that two Nigerians had been cured of SCD through bone marrow transplants at the Foundation’s state-of-the-art facility at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
“They walked in with pain and crises, and they walked out cured,” she said. “This proves that curing SCD in Nigeria is not just a dream—it’s our reality.”
However, she expressed concern that too few patients can access this life-changing treatment, and even fewer receive adequate early diagnosis or basic care.
“There’s an urgent need to ensure that every Nigerian child born with SCD has the chance not just to survive, but to thrive with dignity, without stigma, and with access to world-class care,” Akinsete said.
As Nigeria grapples with one of the world’s highest SCD burdens, the Foundation’s message was clear: the time for action is now not later, not tomorrow.