Bill to establish National Sickle Cell Research Centres scales second reading in senate

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — The determination to found Sickle Cell Disorder Research and Therapy Centres crossed Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones has received a boost arsenic a measure to that effect scaled 2nd speechmaking successful the Senate.

The projected authorities seeks to supply for the constitution and due medication of the centres successful each geopolitical portion and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish Sickle Cell Disorder Research and Therapy Centres to Expand Access to Specialised Sickle Cell Disorder Care, Improve Data Collection and Research, Support Education and Assistance for Patients, Families, Providers and Communities Affected by Sickle Cell Disorder, and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 893)”, was sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung (PDP, Kaduna South).

Presenting the pb statement connected the wide principles of the bill, Senator Katung explained that the authorities aims to grow entree to specialised care, fortify information collection, and heighten acquisition and enactment for patients and families affected by sickle compartment disorder.

According to him, the measure contains 27 clauses covering the instauration of the centres, constitution of absorption boards, staffing, funding, and wide administration.

Katung described sickle compartment illness arsenic the astir communal inherited upset successful tropical Africa, noting that much than 650 children dice regular from related complications. He said Nigeria remains the planetary epicentre of the disease, with astir affected children dying earlier the property of five.

“Distinguished colleagues, it is worthy of enactment that these statistic are successful crisp opposition to outcomes successful high-income countries, wherever much than 90 percent of sickle compartment patients scope adulthood,” Katung said.

He lamented that contempt large technological advancements globally, Nigeria continues to grounds precocious mortality rates owed to mediocre implementation of diagnostic and attraction measures.

In his contribution, Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) described the measure arsenic “long overdue and wholly necessary,” noting that the disease’s familial quality requires accrued nationalist awareness. “It comes from familial transmission, often owed to ignorance of parents. This measure is timely and volition spell a agelong mode successful providing therapy and redeeming lives,” helium said.

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), called connected applicable agencies to intensify nationalist sensitisation connected genotype compatibility earlier marriage.

Similarly, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North) urged that the measure should prioritise nationalist enlightenment and agrarian outreach, adding that “many radical inactive deficiency consciousness astir genotype compatibility.”

Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) emphasised the request for sustained acquisition connected premarital genotype testing, describing sickle compartment upset arsenic a dense fiscal and affectional load connected families.

After extended deliberations, the measure was enactment to a dependable ballot by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North) and was passed for 2nd reading.

The station Bill to found National Sickle Cell Research Centres scales 2nd speechmaking successful senate appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.