Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State officially on Friday opened a Paediatric Sickle Cell Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
Donated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs), the centre aims to offer comprehensive care, including early diagnosis and advanced treatment, to children with sickle cell disease.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the centre’s role in research and education, promoting greater awareness and understanding of sickle cell disease.
“This will not only transform our total healthcare landscape but will definitely add to the number of childcare facilities that already exist in our state health institutions.
“It will raise the capacity of the state’s medical services and, very importantly, contribute to improving the state’s infant and maternal mortality index,” he said.
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The governor emphasized that the center would offer a space for children to receive comprehensive care, addressing their medical needs along with providing psychological support.
Previously, Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, reiterated the federal government’s dedication to tackling non-communicable diseases and enhancing healthcare results for Nigerians.
Alausa highlighted sickle cell disease, alongside malaria, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable illnesses, as significant health challenges for the nation, exacerbating citizen morbidity and mortality.
“At the federal level, we recognise the urgent need to address these challenges and are committed to building a robust infrastructure to manage and mitigate the impact in collaboration with our subnational government,” he added.
The minister further emphasized the significance of maximizing resources to their fullest capacity, guaranteeing their effectiveness in fulfilling the commitment to enhance people’s lives.
