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Why 50 percent of sickle cell babies die before five

By Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia
02 July 2017   |   1:12 am
Professor of Pediatrics at Abia State University, Uturu, Nnamdi Benson Onyire said that about 500,000 children are born yearly globally with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) with 50 per cent of them dying before age five.

PHOTO: BabyCenter

Professor of Pediatrics at Abia State University, Uturu, Nnamdi Benson Onyire said that about 500,000 children are born yearly globally with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) with 50 per cent of them dying before age five.

Onyire, speaking at the commissioning of the Sickle Cell Diagnostic and Treatment Center built by the Foundation of the wife of Abia State Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, in Umuahia, Abia State said that SCD is always associated with a number of recurrent crisis like serious bone pains, constant blood shortage, leg and hand swelling, bacteria infection, stroke or eventually death.

According to him, Sickle Cell patients require optimal care, lamenting that the cost of care is usually beyond the reach of an average Nigerian.He noted that poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, belief system, cultural myths, lack of efficient diagnostic and treatment centers impede quality care for sickle cell patients in Abia State.

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