Federal Government says it is ready to implement the National Multilateral Action Plan for Non-Communicable diseases, NCD’s, which seeks to galvanise NCD interventions of various ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure that the Sickle Cell Disease burden in Nigeria is holistically addressed.
President Muhammadu Buhari stated this in Abuja at the presentation of award recognition to him as NIPRD Champion for eradication of sickle cell disease.
Represented by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, President Buhari who explained that Sickle cell affects about one hundred million people worldwide with fifty percent of the cases being fatal said Nigeria has the highest burden in Africa which kills about a hundred thousand infants yearly.
According to him, the worrisome statistics prompted the federal government to empower six medical centers to set up dedicated clinics and programs for the specialised management.
“Sickle Cell Disease awareness creation and community mobilisation require being scaling-up, while early identification and enrolment into comprehensive care are to be prioritised. This will include the implementation of the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which seeks to galvanise NCD interventions of various line ministries, departments, and agencies, to ensure the SCD burden in Nigeria is holistically addressed.”
The Director-General, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe said his organization accepted the challenge which gave birth to the production of NIPRISAN which is an anti-sickling medicine for sickle cell.
“NIPRISAN is an anti-sickling medicine extracted from four local herbs in Nigeria which were found to be efficacious in the management of the disease. It is a safe and efficacious phytomedicine that has been proven in recent times to be a cogent therapeutic intervention for sickle cell disease and has proffered considerable reduction in the frequency of hospital admission by persons living with the sickle cell disorder.” He said
Dr Adigwe lauded President Buhari for his unflinching support for NIPRD which has put the country in limelight.
RN