Over 150,000 babies are born with sickle cell in Nigeria per annum, the Chief Medical Science Laboratory, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, Abdullahi Musa Maikano has said. The medical expert also said 40 million Nigerians currently live with sickle cell, making ‎it highest in the world. 

 

He made the revelation on Wednesday during a meeting organised by a Kaduna-based non-governmental organization, Bako Youth Development Foundation, to mark this year’s World Sickle Cell disease day celebration. “About 40 million Nigerians are living with sickle cell disease and 150,000 babies are born annually, making it the worst in the world. 

 

“We need more awareness. People need to get tested before having anything close to marriage together,” he warned. Founder, Bako Youth Development Foundation, Andy Bako said sickle cell could be addressed if young Nigerians make efforts to know their genotype before they plan to get married. ‎He said the world was celebrating sickle cell disease to show solidarity for people in this category.