By Abiodun Abegunde

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) says it has recorded another successful bone marrow transplant cycle since the first set was done in September 2024.

Dr Adeseye Akinsete, a Paediatric Haematologist at LUTH, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday, said that another set of patients were in preparation for a third cycle coming up in August.

Akinsete was speaking on the sidelines of the World Sickle Cell Day celebrated annually every June 19, to increase public knowledge and understanding of sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by patients and their families and caregivers.

NAN reports that the theme for the World Sickle Cell Day 2025 is “Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy”.

The theme underlines the need to amplify the voices of those affected by sickle cell anaemia directly or indirectly, vis-à-vis patients and their family members.

According to Akinsete, LUTH successfully completed its first bone marrow transplant in August 2024, offering new hope through curative therapies to patients suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD).

“The procedure, which was performed on the first set of patients, represents a major breakthrough in the country’s medical landscape and underscores the growing capacity of local healthcare facilities to provide advanced treatments for complex conditions like SCD.

“This achievement marked a turning point for Nigeria, a country with the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world, where an estimated 150,000 children are born with the condition each year.”

The paediatric haematologist, a team lead at LUTH, said all transplanted patients were alive, well and with functioning stem cell grafts.

He disclosed that the process had also been improved significantly.

“The process has been improved significantly and it is more efficient. Nigerians are gradually becoming more aware of the programme in Lagos and the last set included a patient from outside Lagos,” he said.

He added that the hospital also ran a dedicated post-transplant clinic for those who do transplants outside the country.

“This has been a very successful service; giving care to people from all over the country. This service utilises virtual consultation means to reach people outside Lagos.

“Curative therapies offer a new lease of life for individuals affected by Sickle Cell Anemia” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker