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Buhari Bags Award As NIPRD Champion For Global Eradication Of Sickle cell Disease.

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Statistics indicate that Nigeria is ranked as the highest Sickle Cell endemic country in Africa with about 25% of its adult population healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene.

Worried about this development, the federal government says it has taken steps to address the impact of the disease as 6 federal medical centres across the geo political zones have been empowered to set up dedicated clinics and programs for specialized management of the disease President Muhammadu Buhari, disclosed this at a ceremony of award conferment on him in Abuja, as Nigeria Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Development(NIPRD) champion for global eradication of sickle cell disease.

Represented by Health Minister, Osahie Ehanire, the president said the federal government is also championing research effort on sickle cell disease which has yielded breakthrough in the production of Niprisan by NIPRD. Buhari further restated the federal government commitment through various initiatives to reduce the burden of the disease by ensuring comprehensive care for all sickle cell disease patients in the country.

Meanwhile the Minister of State for Health, Sen. Adeleke Mamora in his remarks spoke extensively on the commercialization of Niprisan saying it has rested hope for the sufferers of the disease.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director General of NIPRD, Dr Obi Adigwe, said the institute will continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to develop cure for communicable and non communicable disease including Sickle cell in the country

Other takeaways from the ceremony indicates the need for more advocacy on genotype, which stakeholders believe will reduce the current statistics of 150,000 children born annually with the sickle cell disease in Nigeria resulting to the death of 100,000 infants.

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