Nigeria Tops Global List for Sickle Cell Births
Nigeria records the highest number of newborns affected by sickle cell disease globally, with an estimated 150,000 babies born with the condition every year.
This alarming statistic was revealed by Dr. Maureen Achebe, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Director of Hematology at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Achebe, who is also the daughter of the iconic Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, delivered a public lecture at the University of Abuja, organized by the Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRTA).
Speaking on the topic, “The evolving therapeutic landscape in sickle cell disease,” she highlighted the urgent need for early detection and intervention to reduce the high mortality rate associated with the disease in Nigeria.
She noted that Sub-Saharan Africa sees around 300,000 babies born with sickle cell disease each year, half of them in Nigeria alone. According to her, the high fertility rate means these numbers are likely to rise, further increasing the burden on the healthcare system.
More concerning, she said, is the fact that between 50% to 80% of children born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria die before the age of five, largely due to lack of early diagnosis and access to basic care.
Dr. Achebe stressed the importance of newborn screening, explaining that babies with the condition often appear healthy at birth. Identifying them early would allow for simple but life-saving interventions such as folic acid supplementation, vaccinations, and measures to prevent pneumonia and malaria.
She also emphasized that sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene, not a supernatural or mystical condition, as is often believed in some communities.
Understanding the scientific basis of the disease is essential to increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and improving outcomes.
Speaking at the event, the Director of CESRTA, Prof. Obiageli Nnodu, called for a multi-faceted approach to combatting the disease, combining research, awareness, and access to quality healthcare. She reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to comprehensive care, education, and advocacy.
Also present was the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Patricia Lar, who, through her representative, Prof. Titus Ibekwe, highlighted the importance of voluntary premarital screening.
She said that such screening enables couples to make informed reproductive choices and can significantly reduce the number of children born with the disease.
The lecture served as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for national policies that prioritize early detection and care for those affected by sickle cell disease, a preventable and manageable condition when diagnosed and treated early.
