NATIONAL EMERGENCY!
Nigeria is the Sickle Cell Disorder Capital of the World!
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Annual SCD Deaths Of Children Under 5 Years
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SCD Carriers
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Annual SCD Births
Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) is a devastating genetic condition that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable population—children under five. For these ones, SCD is not just a health challenge; it is a daily battle for survival. With compromised immune systems, they are at a significantly higher risk of life-threatening infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and malaria, and are tragically less likely to live to their fifth birthday. This reality makes early intervention and comprehensive care absolutely critical.
In Nigeria, 1 in every 4 persons is a healthy carrier of the sickle cell trait posing a serious risk for increased SCD births.
SCD is marked by the production of abnormal red blood cells (RBCs) with shorter lifespans. This phenomenon leads to an array of issues, including anaemia, frequent episodes of pain, body swellings, infections, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, stroke, leg ulcers, and hip degeneration among many others. The high level of illiteracy around SCD in Nigeria has led to a high incidence of SCD births, placing social and financial burdens on families, healthcare systems, and the society at large. These issues have led to economic discrimination and social isolation for persons living with SCD, reinforcing poverty and stigma.
Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) is out to not just provide care but to save lives.
Without adequate Education and awareness, we will keep having an all-time high prevalence of Sickle cell cases, and without access to adequate health INTERVENTION SERVICES RENDERED across the nation for persons living with Sickle Cell Disorder, we will keep having high mortality rates yearly due to lack of access to the right medical solutions.
T JUST Nigeria, Africa, and the Global Perspective Of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD)
Sickle Cell disease affects nearly 100 million people in the world and it is responsible for over 50% of deaths in those with the most severe form of the disease.
Over 300,000 children are born annually with SCD and over 70% of the births occur in Sub-Saharan Africa where a majority of them die before the age of 5 years as a result of poor management.
In Nigeria, sickle cell disease is among the ten (10) priority non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and it contributes significantly to both child and adult morbidity and mortality.
Nigeria's Position in the Sickle Cell Crisis
By virtue of its substantial population, Nigeria emerges as the most significant epicenter for sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. This sobering reality is underscored by the staggering figure of over 150,000 annual infant deaths attributed to SCD, accounting for a substantial 8% of the country's total infant mortality rate. The sheer scale of this issue highlights Nigeria's critical role in addressing and combating this pervasive health crisis, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive intervention and awareness initiatives.
Understanding Sickle Cell Gene Carriers in Nigeria
Over 50 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene (Hb AS), which represents nearly 25% of the nation’s population with this gene. These carriers have the potential to pass the gene to their offspring, resulting in an estimated 6 million individuals currently living with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria. This is in stark contrast to approximately 100,000 cases in the United States of America.
This ALARMING NUMBER which is predicted to Increase further makes this a NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY WHICH MUST BE HANDLED WITH A HIGH SENSE OF URGENCY.
Support and Health Implications
SCFN provides FREE treatment to the vast majority of patients suffering from sickle cell disorder (SCD). However, the condition can lead to severe health issues, including:
- Stroke in children aged 2 - 16 years
- Severe leg ulcers/sores that take a long time to heal