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Nigeria: FG Makes Commitment to Fund Completion of Sickle Cell Centre

Nigeria First (Abuja)
April 4, 2007

The Federal Government on April 3 in Abuja pledged to provide the N70 million needed to complete the National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos.

President Olusegun Obasanjo made the commitment at a breakfast He hosted at the State House, to raise funds for the completion of the Centre.

Addressing his fellow diners, Mr. President acknowledged the need for more education and counselling, especially for unmarried young people, to avoid partners with traits that could produce sickle cell infested children.

His Words: "You need to raise sufficient awareness among political leaders, so that they can support the fight to check this disease. People will only act if they have the information".

President Obasanjo also challenged the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria to explore the possibility of collaborating with government, in order to attract more government funding.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Prof. Olu Akinyanju, said there were about 40 million healthy carriers of the disease in Nigeria, while over 150,000 Nigerian children were born with the disease every year.

Nigeria had, in August 2006, launched two drugs, Nicosan and Sikilafit, for the treatment of Sickle Cell.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200704040888.html