The Medical Director of Pfizer Nigeria, Kodjo Soroh, has decried the meagre information available to people living with Sickle Cell Disorder, SCD, in rural communities.
Soroh, who made the claim explained that the mortality of children within this category was due to lack of proper knowledge and information management.
The Medical Director made the statement while assuring people suffering SCD that they can live a longer life, with proper information management.
Speaking at MRC Hall of Lagos State University Teaching Hosiptal, LASUTH, the Pfizer Medical Director said to stem out SCD in rural communities, there was need to intensify campaign on the disorder.
He said, “Despite the high incidence of SCD in Nigeria, little is still known on the cause and the management of the disorder is still a big challenge, especially in rural communities. Increased awareness is key to reducing the burden because there are also proper management plans for people living with it.”
Also speaking, Head of Haematology clinic of the foundation, Sanda Ajibola emphasized the need for parents to know their children’s genotype as early as possible, to prevent infant mortality, because SCD is one of the killers of children under the age of five in the country.
Ajibola said about 60-70 million Nigerians were living with the sickle cell gene, adding that this makes it imperative for everyone to know the signs and symptoms of the disorder.
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