Sickle Cell Research Fund

Why this matters in Nigeria

More babies are born with sickle cell disease in Nigeria than in any other country, and most are never diagnosed at birth. Without early identification, children miss simple protections such as daily penicillin, vaccines and malaria prevention, and many die in early childhood from infection or severe anemia. Those who survive face painful crises, strokes and organ damage, often managed by families paying for hospital care out of pocket.

Proven tools exist but remain out of reach for many. Newborn screening is not routine in most public hospitals, confirmatory laboratory tests are costly and concentrated in cities, and hydroxyurea, a daily medicine that reduces crises, is not consistently available or affordable. Health insurance covers only a small minority of the population. Research on low-cost screening, point-of-care testing and practical treatment protocols for primary care is the route to reaching children in smaller towns and rural areas, where most cases go unrecorded.

What your gift pays for

• Screening of newborns and schoolchildren using low-cost testing methods suited to ordinary clinics
• Studies on affordable treatment protocols, including hydroxyurea use in local clinics
• Genotype awareness and counseling sessions for young people and couples
• Training for primary health workers to recognize and refer affected children