Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria Achieves Groundbreaking Bone Marrow Transplant

Bennett Oghifo

Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) has announced it achieved a historic breakthrough by completing the first-of-its-kind Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) in Nigeria and West Africa, using advanced technology and expertise.
According to a statement by Public Relations Lead, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Caleb Audu, the organisationn partnership with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), established a state-of-the-art, advanced-technology Bone Marrow Transplant Centre in Lagos.

Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria is a global non-profit leader championing the prevention, care, cure and control of Sickle cell disease through clinical services and programmes.
Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) remains a significant public health challenge globally, affecting nearly 100 million people and accounting for over 50 per cent of deaths among those with the most severe form of the disease. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 70 per cent of sickle cell births occur, inadequate management has led to a high mortality rate before the age of five.

In Nigeria, 150,000 babies are born annually with SCD and over 100,000 die before their fifth birthday. In addition, an estimated 50 million people carry the sickle cell trait and are at risk of passing it on to their offspring. With the average life expectancy of individuals in Nigeria living with SCD at only 20 years, the need for an effective cure has never been more urgent.

Bone marrow transplant (BMT) is currently the only established cure for the disease. For many years, this cure has been limited and unavailable in Nigeria, the sickle cell capital of the world, forcing families to seek BMT procedures abroad at exorbitant financial and socio-cultural costs. Recognising this critical gap, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, embarked on a journey to establish Nigeria’s first state-of-the-art Bone Marrow Transplant Centre.

“The SCFN/LUTH Bone Marrow Transplant Centre is the first of its kind in West-Africa, and we are proud to offer a safe, quality, and accessible cure for sickle cell disorder here in Nigeria,” said Dr. Annette Akinsete, CEO/National Director of SCFN. “We have always believed that Nigerians deserve access to world-class healthcare at home, and this is now a reality.”

“Partnering with SCFN on this historic project underscores our shared commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for Nigerians living with sickle cell disorder,” said Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chief Medical Director, LUTH. “This BMT Centre is a major leap forward in offering accessible treatment for those who need it most.”

SCFN said its journey is far from over, stating that “the bone marrow transplant procedure, while groundbreaking, remains expensive, and SCFN aims to make it accessible to those in need.
“Many individuals living with SCD live below the poverty line and face significant barriers to care. This underscores the critical need for multi-sectoral collaborations and funding support to create a sustainable model for treating SCD in Nigeria.

“To address these challenges, SCFN is currently developing the Access to Care Programme, a digital platform that connects sponsors with patients in need of financial support, while transparently tracking funding and treatment progress. With hundreds of inquiries for BMT, of which 127 patients potentially qualify for the procedure, the demand for BMT is clear.

“SCFN continues to seek partnerships with government bodies, private organisations, and philanthropists to expand the program. Together, we can make this life-saving cure more accessible for all Nigerians living with sickle cell disorder.”

This ground-breaking procedure marks a new era in healthcare for persons living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria, reducing the need for expensive medical tourism and providing accessible, life-saving treatment to thousands of Nigerians affected by the disorder. As Nigeria holds the world’s largest population of persons with sickle cell disorder, this groundbreaking achievement underscores the country’s significant role in leading the charge to address this global health issue.