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OSSAP-SDGs Inaugurates Sickle Cell Care Centre In LASUTH To Mitigate Infant Mortality
With Sickle Cell Disease contributing to approximately 376,000 under-5 deaths annually, compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has taken a significant step to reverse this trend by delivering a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Care Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
The Centre, commissioned by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday, is designed to cater to the needs of the numerous Sickle Cell patients who visit the hospital daily.
Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that the centre would provide comprehensive care, including early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and continued management for children suffering from the debilitating condition. He emphasized that the centre will serve as a hub for research and education, fostering greater awareness and understanding of sickle cell disease.
“This will not only transform our total healthcare landscape but will also add to the number of childcare facilities that already exist in our state health institutions. It will raise the capacity of the state’s medical services and, very importantly, contribute to improving the state’s infant and maternal mortality index,” he said.
The governor commended OSSAP-SDGs, noting that the centre would provide an environment where children could receive holistic care tailored to their needs, from medical treatment to psychological support.
“We believe that this will ensure that every child that has an opportunity to come to this facility will come out healthier, better, and be able to fulfill their life,” he added.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, described the project as part of the efforts to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. She stated that the centre would enhance the quality of care for children with Sickle Cell Disease, aiming to reduce under-5 mortality and support the attainment of the SDGs in Nigeria. She highlighted the World Health Organization’s declaration of sickle cell disease as a global public health concern and encouraged countries with high disease burdens to establish newborn screening programs for early detection and evidence-based interventions.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted, “In August 2023, a Lancet Haematology publication revealed that globally, between 2000 and 2021, the rate of children born with sickle cell disease increased by 13.7 percent, reaching an average of up to 515,000 babies per annum. The study also found that sickle cell-specific under-5 mortality was 11 times higher than deaths due to other causes, amounting to approximately 376,000 deaths from sickle cell disease annually compared to 34,400 deaths from other causes.”
“In Nigeria, approximately one in four, or 25 percent of Nigerians, carries a sickle cell gene, meaning about 50 million people can transmit the gene to their children. We must act now to reverse this trend,” she stated.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire expressed confidence that the Sickle Cell Centre and other related interventions will contribute to achieving SDG-3.2 on “reducing under-five mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births or less by 2030” as well as other cross-cutting SDGs. This aligns with the cardinal pillars on healthcare and empowerment in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to combating non-communicable diseases and improving healthcare outcomes for Nigerians. He noted that sickle cell disease, alongside malaria, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases, represents a substantial health burden for the country, worsening morbidity and mortality rates.
“At the federal level, we recognize the urgent need to address these challenges and are committed to building robust infrastructure to manage and mitigate the impact in collaboration with our subnational government. The establishment of this state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Centre is a testament to the dedication of the SDG office to provide quality healthcare and infrastructure to our people. This centre is not merely a building, it is a beacon of hope for many and a cornerstone of our strategy to enhance healthcare services nationwide,” he said.
In the same vein, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, Adetokunbo Fabamwo, noted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease globally, with up to three million people living with the condition. He emphasized that the condition contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality.
“It is, therefore, apt to have a centre like this to offer preventive and therapeutic care to child sufferers. The establishment of this centre takes a huge chunk of load off the usually crowded therapeutic clinics and wards,” he said.
The European Union (EU) on Saturday advised airlines to avoid the Lebanese and Israeli airspace for the next month due to escalating air strikes and rocket fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
The European Commission, alongside the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), issued a warning about the “overall intensification of air strikes and degradation in the security situation.”
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The advisory recommends airlines “not to operate within the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels” until at least October 31, although this date could change depending on the situation.
The alert, part of a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), may be “reviewed earlier and adapted or withdrawn” if the situation stabilizes.
“EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation,” the agency said, noting that any future updates would depend on how the conflict evolves.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been rising, with Israeli bombardment of southern Beirut on Friday reaching its highest intensity since the 2006 war between the two sides.
Israel claimed responsibility for an airstrike that allegedly killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, while the Iran-backed group retaliated with rocket fire aimed at a kibbutz and military targets in northern Israel.
With the security situation rapidly deteriorating, European authorities are focusing on ensuring the safety of airline operators and passengers flying in the region.
In a significant move to advance the establishment of the North West Development Commission (NWDC), President Bola Tinubu has submitted the names of the first Governing Board members to the Senate for confirmation.
This development was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information & Strategy.
The move comes after President Tinubu signed the North West Development Commission Bill into law on July 24, solidifying efforts to establish the commission.
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The NWDC is expected to drive economic growth and social development across the North West region.
According to the statement, Ambassador Haruna Ginsau from Jigawa has been nominated as Chairman, while Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji from Kano is the pick for Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO).
The other nominated board members are:
Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe (Sokoto), Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kebbi), Senator Tijani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara), Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman (Kaduna), Hon. Engr. Muhammad Ali Wudil (Kano), Shamsu Sule (Katsina), Nasidi Ali (Jigawa)
The statement highlighted the expectation that these individuals will bring their extensive experience to support the Commission’s objectives of fostering growth and development in the region.
President Tinubu’s administration further reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the NWDC’s mission to deliver long-term development and economic empowerment for the North West.
The Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) has raised serious concerns regarding a staggering debt of over N15 billion owed to its members by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
This alarming revelation was made by AHUON President Abdullateef Ekundayo in a statement released on Saturday in Abuja.
Ekundayo explained that it is customary for the Saudi government to issue refunds to participating countries after each Hajj season based on three specific criteria: services paid for but not rendered, services that were poorly delivered, and security deposits for tents.
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He emphasized that NAHCON owes its members refunds related to these categories from the 2022 Hajj operations to the present.
The AHUON President disclosed that NAHCON confirmed receiving 20 million Saudi Riyals in refunds from Saudi authorities as early as December 2023.
However, he criticized the commission for failing to formally notify the operators about this refund or discuss payment modalities.
“If not for the EFCC’s investigation into the commission, we wouldn’t have known about this payment,” he said, expressing frustration at the lack of communication.
Further complicating matters, Ekundayo highlighted that during the recently concluded 2024 Hajj operations, NAHCON received and retained over N2.7 billion in caution deposits from tour operators.
According to their agreement, these funds were to be released two weeks after the Hajj’s conclusion, but NAHCON has not refunded any of the companies that applied for it.
Instead, they have reportedly requested additional payments for the 2023 Hajj deposits.
The AHUON President lamented that many members have passed away while waiting for these refunds and expressed concern over the commission’s failure to publish a list of companies eligible for refunds, as previously agreed upon.
He pointed out that some members have significant balances in their Saudi accounts that remain inaccessible, adding, “Our members receive nothing as income from the amounts we deposit annually.”
In response to these allegations, NAHCON has stated that it is committed to addressing the concerns raised by AHUON.
The commission’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Fatima Usara, acknowledged the issues regarding accumulated refunds and emphasized that NAHCON has maintained ongoing communication with AHUON.
She attributed the delays in resolving financial matters to the complexities involved in Hajj operations, which require coordination with multiple stakeholders, both domestically and internationally.
“NAHCON wishes to reassure AHUON and the public that it has no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds,” Usara added, as both parties seek a resolution to this pressing financial dispute.
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