Pfizer advocates more awareness on sickle cell

There is need for more awareness on sickle cell anaemia, as well as challenges patients and families face in managing the health condition in Nigeria, the Medical Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Pfizer, Kodjo Soroh, has said.

At a zoom lecture on sickle cell disorder to mark World Sickle Cell Day 2023, yesterday, Soroh said sickle cell, though categorised as rare disease, is not rare in the society, because Nigeria is the epicentre, with four to six million people living with it.

He said: “Today, we are not where we used to be decades ago before the evolution of science, when affected children were seen as ogbanje (changeling) due to the high mortality rate of babies born with the disorder.

“Nowadays, science has significantly evolved to reduce mortality and morbidity through mass media campaigns, counselling, early diagnosis and breakthrough medicines.”

He recognised the leadership of Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, relevant stakeholders, as well as sickle cell warriors and caregivers, who have showed solidarity against the disorder in Africa.

According to him, more work needs to be done to identify the underserved within communities and reduce the prevalence estimated at 150,000 babies born with the health condition yearly.

Soroh called for joint effort to prevent complications and give adequate intervention through consistent public awareness and education, early diagnosis and prompt interventions.

Pfizer, in its commitment to change a billion lives per year, he said, has partnered Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria to celebrate the world sickle cell disease day and stand in solidarity with our warriors.

He urged government and relevant stakeholders to support the cause to improve patients’ quality of life and save more lives, considering that sickle cell disorder is not a death sentence.

Chairman of Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Tunde Afolabi, commented: “World Sickle Cell Day is an international awareness day marked on June 19 to alert humanity about sickle cell.

“This is as various global and local organisations come together for awareness campaigns and activities that recognise the need for early diagnosis of the disease, its treatment and preventive tips.

“Sickle cell, he said, is one of the majorly occurring monogenic diseases seen in low and middle-income countries.