By Justina Auta
The Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN) has launched a nationwide patient identification and early detection initiative to improve the detection and management of bleeding disorders.
The Executive Director, Mrs Megan Adediran, told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, that the initiative “Road to Clot: Reaching the Undiagnosed,” was designed to take basic bleeding disorder screening directly to communities.
She said the aim was to identify undiagnosed cases of haemophilia and other inherited bleeding conditions.
Adediran said bleeding disorders such as haemophilia and other inherited conditions remain largely invisible in many communities, not because they are rare, but because they are seldom recognised or properly diagnosed.
She said that although Nigeria’s population exceeds 230 million and should have tens of thousands of people living with haemophilia and related disorders based on global prevalence rates, only 941 individuals are currently recorded in the national registry.
According to her, the gap reflects thousands of children, youths and adults who continue to live with unexplained bleeding, repeated hospital visits, preventable disability or even loss of life due to lack of proper diagnosis.
She added that the “Road to Clot” programme would move screening from hospitals to communities through mobile testing units and community-based outreach points.
There, she said, individuals would receive bleeding history assessments, basic clotting screening tests and on-the-spot counselling.
Adediran added that individuals with abnormal results would be referred for confirmatory testing and linked to appropriate care and follow-up services.
“The goal is simple but powerful: identify people early, reduce years of suffering, and create a clear pathway into care,” she said.
She noted that the initiative would strengthen the national bleeding disorders registry, improve planning and support advocacy for better policies, funding and access to treatment.
“Road to Clot is not only a medical intervention. It is also a data-driven effort.
“Every identified case strengthens our national bleeding disorders registry, improves planning, and supports advocacy for better policies, funding, and access to treatment.
“Without data, bleeding disorders remain invisible, but with data, they become impossible to ignore,” she said.
While revealing that treatment access in Nigeria remained largely dependent on support from the World Federation of Hemophilia Humanitarian Aid Programme, she urged government and other stakeholders to support the initiative as early awareness, testing and diagnosis were critical to saving lives.
“This initiative represents hope for families who have been searching for answers for years.
“It represents dignity for people who have been blamed, misunderstood, or neglected because of a medical condition they did not choose.”
She added that it represents a future where no Nigerian has to suffer or die simply because their blood could not clot and no one noticed.
Also, Mr Timothy Adediran, a 30 year-old, cited incidences of stigmatisation and poor awareness of haemophilia, calling for more awareness to educate the public on the disease, appropriate management and treatment.
Similarly, Mr Bobby Johnson -Etukudoh, called for support to ensure people at the grassroots are reached for identification and early detection of hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Folasade Akpan
