By, Michael Egbejule
A university Don , Prof. Marcellinus Uchechukwu Nwagu on Friday revealed that there are about 200 registered hematologists in Nigeria serving a population of about 200 million people , saying one hematologist serving a population of one million Nigerians is unacceptable.
He also said blood donation is still not regular and very low in Nigeria making blood products not always available saying there is urgent need to create more centres for blood bank as the Aphaeresis machine used to prepare blood products is not available in many of the hospitals.
The don spoke while delivering the 17th inaugural lectures series of Edo University Iyamho titled: “We are transporters, We are soldiers; We are sealants, We swim in our waters, but we have our problems.”
Nwagu called on the federal government to establish stem cell transplantation centres in all the geographical zones in the country to make the services available and affordable by average Nigerians.
Nwagu, a professor of haematology and blood transfusion at the Edo University said treatment and managing sickle cells is generally to alleviate symptoms and promote good quality of life ,adding that the only cure for sickle cell disease is successful haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Bone marrow transplantation).
According to him, for the prevention of the disease, more awareness needs to be created.
He noted that the awareness is still very low in rural communities, especially in faith-based institutions/churches.
“We recommend more awareness to be created in the churches and free routine population screening to be encouraged even in primary schools as many adults don’t even know their Hemoglobin genotype.”
The inaugural lecturer, however, recommended that there should be a compulsory determination of sickle cell status among prospective couples before getting married.” If possible, let there be a legislation making sickle cell screening compulsory before marriage.
“There should be a programme by the government to ensure cytotoxic drugs are available in our hospitals and affordable, just like the pepfar programme for HIV-drugs
“Nigerian first ladies should take it as their pet projects to sponsor one HbSS transplant per year making 36 cases per year and 142 cases per tenure of 4 years.
“Government should subsidize the cost of diagnosis and management of haematological cancers, provide up-to-date diagnostic equipments (morphology is not enough) and ensure implementation of health policy that would benefit patients with haematological cancer”
Earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Dawood Egbefo, said inaugural lecture would soon be a key criterion for further academic progression.
