Nigeria should drive home-grown sickle cell solutions – Foundation

The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria is advocating for Nigerian leadership in developing and implementing home-grown solutions for sickle cell disease. Dr Annette Akinsete, the National Director and CEO of the foundation, made the call during the launch of the global partnership OneSCD at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Nigeria has a high prevalence of sickle cell disease, with over 25% of the population carrying the sickle cell trait, affecting more than 40 million Nigerians. Dr Akinsete highlighted Nigeria's substantial sickle cell burden, decades of advocacy, growing technical capacity, and specialist centers. She emphasized that Nigeria should be seen as a demonstration country for transformative sickle care due to its experience, institutions, technical expertise, civil society, and solutions developed in its own context.

Dr Akinsete urged countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, to be recognized as co-creators and partners in the global sickle cell response, rather than just recipients of solutions. The OneSCD partnership, launched by the Nigerian government in collaboration with global health partners, aims to strengthen global coordination, resource mobilization, and shared learning around sickle cell disease, focusing on improving equity and access to quality care.