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Sickle Cell 

By Oluwafunke Ishola/Aderonke Ojediran 

Lagos, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Friday inaugurated a Paediatric Sickle Cell Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre was donated to LASUTH by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs). 

Sanwo-Olu said that the centre would provide a comprehensive care that includes early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and continued management to children suffering from the debilitating condition of sickle cell. 

According to him, the centre will serve as a hub for research, education, foster a greater awareness and a deeper understanding of the sickle cell disease.

“This will not only transform our total healthcare landscape, but will definitely add to the number of child care facilities that already exist in our state health institutions.

“It will raise the capacity of the state’s medical services, and very importantly, contribute to improving the state’s infant and maternal mortality index,” he said. 

The governor noted that the centre would provide an environment where children could receive holistic care tailored to their individual needs, from medical treatment to psychological support.

“We believe that this will ensure that every child that has an opportunity to come to this facility will come out healthier, better, and they’ll be able to fulfill their life,” he said. 

Earlier, Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, restated the Federal Government’s committment to combat non-communicable diseases and improve healthcare outcomes for Nigerians. 

Alausa said that sickle cell disease, alongside malaria, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases represent a substantial health burden for the country, worsening morbidity and mortality of citizens.

“At the federal level, we recognise the urgent need to address these challenges and are committed to building a robust infrastructure to manage and mitigate the impact in collaboration with our subnational government. 

“The establishment of this state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Centre is a testament to the dedication of the SDG office to provide quality healthcare and infrastructure to our people. 

“This centre is not merely a building, it is a beacon of hope for many and a cornerstone of our strategy to enhance healthcare services nationwide,” he said.  

The minister stressed the importance of leveraging the resources to its fullest potential, ensuring that it delivers on its promise to improve lives. 

Alausa advised subnational governments to form strategic partnerships for healthcare and human capital development, stressing that through collaboration a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the demand of population would emerge. 

He commended the Lagos State Government and OSSAP-SDGs on their partnership to provide top-tier cancer care to children and their commitment to innovative research.

Also, Dr Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, said that the centre would enhance the quality of care to children suffering from Sickle Cell disease. 

Orelope-Adefulire noted that the centre was an intervention to reduce the number of under five child mortality and strengthen the attainment of SDGs target in the country. 

Contributing, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabamwo, Chief Medical Director, LASUTH, said Nigeria had one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease globally, with up to three million people living with the condition.

Fabamwo noted that the condition contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality.

“It is therefore apt to have a centre like this to offer preventive and therapeutic care to child sufferers.

“The establishment of this centre takes a huge chunk of load off the usually crowded therapeutic clinics and wards,” he said. (NAN)

OAF/AIO/SOA

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Children facing severe food poverty in Nigeria declines- UNICEF

Food poverty

By Folasade Akpan

Abuja, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says Nigeria has demonstrated a steady decline in the proportion of children facing severe food poverty from 45 per cent in 2012 to 32 per cent in 2022.

The fund said this in a statement it issued on Friday in Abuja, adding that it is contained in the “Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood report” published on Friday.

The report also said that about 11 million children or one in every three children under five years of age, in Nigeria are presently experiencing severe child food poverty.

It said that the situation could make the children up to 50 per cent more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition.

“For the first time, the “Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood” report analyses the impacts and causes of dietary deprivation among the world’s youngest and most vulnerable, that is children under five years of age, in nearly 100 countries, and across income groups.

“Globally, 181 million children under the age of five who consume, at most, two of eight defined food groups are considered in severe child food poverty and unable to sustain optimal growth and development in early childhood and beyond.

“Nigeria ranks among the 20 countries that account for almost two-thirds (65 per cent) of the 181 million children living in severe child food poverty.”

The report also said that globally, four out of five children experiencing child food poverty are fed only breastmilk/milk and/or a starchy staple, such as rice, maize, or wheat.

Also, that less than 10 per cent of these children are fed fruits and vegetables, and even fewer, less than five per cent, are fed nutrient-dense foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, or meat.

The report, however, warns that while countries are still recovering from the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of growing inequities, conflicts, and the climate crisis have pushed food prices and the cost of living to record high levels.

“A recently published report by the government and partners titled Cadre Harmonisé estimates that nearly 32 million people across 26 states of Nigeria are food insecure during this year’s lean season between June and August.

“Globally and in Nigeria, several factors are fueling the child food poverty crisis, including food systems that fail to provide children with nutritious and safe and accessible options.

“Others are families’ inability to afford nutritious foods, and parents’ inability to adopt and sustain positive child feeding practices.”

It added that cheap, nutrient-poor and unhealthy ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages are aggressively marketed to parents and families and are the new normal for feeding children.

“These unhealthy foods and beverages are consumed by an alarming proportion of young children experiencing food poverty, displacing more nutritious and healthier foods from their daily diets.

“The report shows that in Nigeria, the number of children facing serious hunger is much higher in the poorest families (44 per cent) compared to the richest families (17 per cent).

“However, much more needs to be done to ensure that every child has access to and consumes a diverse diet”, the statement said.

To end child food poverty, UNICEF called on governments, development and humanitarian organisations, donors, civil society and the food and beverage industry, to urgently transform food systems.

It added that nutritious, diverse and healthy foods were the most accessible, affordable and desirable option for caregivers to feed young children.

“Leverage health systems to deliver essential nutrition services to prevent and treat malnutrition in early childhood, including support for community health and nutrition workers to counsel parents and families on child feeding and care practices.

“Activate social protection systems to address income poverty through social transfers (cash, food and vouchers), in ways that are responsive to the food and nutrition needs of vulnerable children and their families.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

FOF/AMM

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru