Health
A medical practitioner at General Hospital Suleja, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf, says many sickle cell patients still face significant challenges accessing quality healthcare in spite of increased awareness and improvements in diagnosis and disease management.
Yusuf said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Suleja, Niger, while highlighting the financial burden associated with managing the condition.
“We have made progress in diagnosis and management, but many patients struggle to afford routine medications, laboratory tests and hospital admissions. The economic burden on families is enormous,” he said.
According to him, medications used to prevent complications, alongside regular medical check-ups and emergency care during crises, can consume a substantial portion of a family’s income.
He said that although advances in medicine had improved survival rates, sickle cell disease continued to exact a heavy physical, emotional and financial toll on thousands of affected families nationwide.
A patient, Miss Amina Musa, a university graduate in Abuja, said she had lived with sickle cell disease since childhood and continued to face recurrent health challenges.
Musa recalled spending weeks in hospital during severe pain crises, missing classes and social activities while her peers continued with their normal lives.
“People see me smiling and assume I am fine, but they do not know the pain I go through. Sometimes the pain is so intense that I cannot walk or even get out of bed,” she said.
Another patient, Miss Grace John, a 27-year-old entrepreneur living with sickle cell disease, said misconceptions about the condition remained widespread in society.
“When people hear you have sickle cell, they sometimes treat you differently. Some believe you cannot work, marry or achieve your goals. That stigma can be as painful as the illness itself,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Rebecca Samuel, a parent whose 10-year-old son lives with sickle cell disease, said her family had spent significant amounts on treatment over the years.
“The hospital bills, drugs and transportation costs keep increasing. Sometimes I am forced to borrow money from family members just to keep my child healthy,” she said.
NAN reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasises that early diagnosis, proper medical care, adequate hydration, good nutrition and adherence to prescribed medications can help patients live longer and healthier lives.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the burden of sickle cell disease, patients and advocates are urging policymakers to strengthen support systems and improve access to affordable treatment nationwide.(NAN)
A.I
June 22, 2026
Tags: Miss Amina Musa Miss Grace John Mr Ibrahim Yusuf Mrs Rebecca Samuel Sickle Cell WHO World Health Organization