The Lagos State government has announced plans to establish haematology daycare centres across all local governments, enabling sickle cell patients to receive immediate, specialised care during crises.
Sickle cell crisis is an acute, painful episode and other serious complications that occur in people with sickle cell disease.
The State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, stated this during a harmonisation meeting with foundations and NGOs working in the sickle cell sector on Thursday.
Abayomi recalled that the state built 10 oxygen triage centres during COVID-19, some of which could be converted into facilities for sickle cell management.
The commissioner observed that one in four Nigerians carried the sickle cell gene, with two to three per cent living with the full-blown disease.
He explained that the persistence of the gene had historic roots linked to malaria but stressed that with Lagos already winning the fight against malaria, deliberate steps must now be taken to reduce the sickle cell burden.
Abayomi emphasised that the government is keen on reducing the genetic burden through informed counselling for couples while promoting advances in research and treatment.
He pointed out that Lagos had opportunities to extend insurance coverage to sickle cell patients through the State Health Scheme, ensuring access to life-saving interventions such as hydroxyurea.
Hydroxyurea is a medicine used to prevent painful episodes and reduce the need for blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell anaemia. It works by making the red blood cells more flexible.
The commissioner pledged that the soon-to-be-completed Massey Specialist Children’s Hospital would be developed into a hub for sickle cell research and advanced care, including hydroxyurea therapy, gene therapy, and stem cell transplantation
Abayomi emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action to tackle sickle cell disease, describing it as one of the most pressing public health challenges in Lagos and Nigeria.
The commissioner noted that while the number of sickle cell focused associations had increased to about 25 in Lagos, scattered efforts without alignment risk limiting real impact.
He stressed the importance of developing a coalition strategy document with clear targets and timelines for collaborative implementation.
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