The Nigeria Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NSBHT), the Haemophilia Care team and the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation have called on the government to address haemophilia-related deaths in Nigeria.
They made the call on Wednesday in Abuja when they paid a courtesy visit to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate.
Haemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder, affects approximately 11,000 Nigerians, but only seven per cent have been diagnosed, leaving 93 per cent undiagnosed, and this has led to severe disability and early death.
The team, led by Prof. Omolade Awodu, President, of NSHBT, said that low priority, inadequate infrastructure and diagnostic equipment and high cost of replacement therapy were major challenges causing haemophilia deaths.
Awodu, therefore, appealed for improved diagnostic capacity, procurement of factor replacement therapy, and reduced delays in clearing donated products that would ensure access to haemophilia diagnosis and treatment.
Responding, Pate acknowledged the need to strengthen haemophilia medicine and pledged government commitment to increasing concentrates and prophylaxis practice.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritising blood services in Nigeria and called for a subsidy drive to alleviate constraints faced by vulnerable members of the public.
In the same vein, the Director General of, the National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), Prof. Saleh Yuguda expressed appreciation to the minister and the advocacy groups for their commitment towards addressing the plights of persons suffering from the disorder.
Yuguda expressed the commitment of the commission towards improving safe, quality blood services in Nigeria.
By Justina Auta
