​Action Reinforces Tinubu’s Vision for an Equitable, Resilient Health System

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to providing equitable, high-quality sickle cell care for all Nigerians, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status. Speaking at the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day Press Briefing in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, emphasized that the government is taking urgent action to address the heavy public health burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) nationwide.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S., the Minister revealed that Nigeria still carries the highest SCD burden globally. Approximately 25 percent of Nigerian adults carry the sickle cell gene, and an estimated 100,000 infants die annually from related complications. Professor Pate expressed deep concern that despite medical advancements, many citizens continue to face severe barriers to diagnosis and treatment, leading to avoidable deaths and a reduced quality of life.
To combat this, the Federal Government is leveraging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). This initiative focuses on building an equitable, resilient, and responsive healthcare system. A key part of this strategy is the rollout of a Universal Newborn Screening Policy for SCD, currently being implemented in selected facilities across Lagos, Kano, and the FCT with support from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
Furthermore, the Ministry has reviewed the National Guidelines for SCD to strengthen evidence-based interventions like Hydroxyurea therapy, while training for primary healthcare workers has already launched in the South-West zone. The government has also established and equipped six Centres of Excellence—one in each geopolitical zone—outfitted with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) machines. Additionally, they have adopted “Sicklescan,” a faster, cost-effective, point-of-care testing technology to boost early diagnosis.
To ensure grassroots access, sickle cell services are being integrated into primary healthcare platforms and the Nigeria Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (Nigeria-PEN). Simultaneously, the Ministry is collaborating with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to include affordable newborn screening, diagnostics, and subsidized Hydroxyurea therapy into the national health insurance package, driving the country closer to Universal Health Coverage.
Highlighting the severity of the crisis, the Director of Public Health, Dr. Charles Nzelu, noted that only 50 percent of children born with SCD survive past the age of five, emphasizing that prevention remains the most effective control measure. Adding a research perspective, Professor Obiageli Nnodu, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training at the University of Abuja, shared that over 38,000 babies have been screened in the FCT, a national registry of 10,000 patients has been created, and more than 700 genetic counselors have been trained nationwide.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s global leadership in SCD advocacy—following its hosting of the 5th Global Sickle Cell Congress in 2025—Professor Pate urged all Nigerians to know their genotypes, seek genetic counseling, and eliminate social stigma. Stakeholders, pharmaceutical partners, and the National Coordinator for Non-Communicable Diseases, Dr. Alayo Sopekan, concluded the briefing by thanking global bodies like the WHO and CHAI for their continued support in closing the survival gap for persons living with the condition.