Bringing Hope to the African Child
The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (Limited by Guarantee RC 258517), is a non-governmental and non –profit making organization dedicated to the proper care and control of sickle cell disorder in Nigeria.
The Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN) was registered in November 1994 to address important issues, such as, capacity building, research, policy development, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation necessary for the sustained management and control of sickle cell disorder (SCD) in Nigeria.
Our Goals
- To create and maintain a reference and related data base on sickle cell disorders in Nigeria.
- To deliver counselling services to affected individuals, their parents and other carriers of the sickle cell trait.
- To serve as a reference laboratory centre for the accurate diagnosis of sickle cell disorder.
- To offer prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disorder to couples or women at risk of bearing affected offspring.
- To maintain a reference library on sickle cell and related disorder.
- To promote, fund and carry out worthwhile research into various aspects of sickle cell disorder.
- To constantly monitor and periodically,evaluate services provided in pursuance of the aims and objectives of the centre.
- To offer appropriate educational and training courses to various cadres of health care personnel.
- To liaise with other national and international bodies as may be necessary in pursuance of the aims and objectives of the centre.
- To advise the 3 levels of the national health care system on the introduction and co-ordination of services appropriate to the management and control of sickle cell disorder.
Mission
To develop a world-class National Sickle Cell Centre and to drive the search for effective solutions to the problems associated with sickle cell and related disorders in Nigeria and beyond.
Vision
To alleviate the burden of sickle cell disorder in Nigeria and to ensure that all affected persons can live normal pain-free lives.
Programmes and ServicesÂ
Genetic Counselling: Expert genetic counselling is available every weekday for people living with SCD, their families and healthy carriers of the sickle cell or Hb C gene (Hb AS or Hb AC). To book an appointment for counselling, please call 0810000 2001.
Sickle Cell Clinics: With donor support, we aid the running of 5 dedicated Sickle Cell Clinics across the country in Lagos, Benin, Asaba and Kano. These clinics have recorded improvement in the quality of lives and reduction of death rates in their patients.
Prenatal Diagnosis of SCD: The diagnosis of Hb genotypes in unborn babies is carried out regularly, from about 11 weeks of pregnancy, on pre-booked pregnant women who are at-risk of bearing children with sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS).Training of obstetricians on the safe performance of the procedure (chorionic villus biopsy) is also offered. The fetal Hb genotype diagnostic process involves two or more molecular biological methods in our MTN DNA Laboratory. For enquiries, please call +234 704 239 1555 OR +234 803 584 6666.
Reference Haematology Lahoratory [RHL): On Mondays to Fridays, our well-equipped RHL provides accurate haematological, Hb genotype and Hb fractions including Hb AC (for diabetes control). Update training of laboratory personnel is also offered.
Exchange Blood Transfusion: An automated red cell exchange transfusion service is now available.
Library and Information Services: The Stanbic IBTC Library in our Centre provides access to current print and digital publications on SCD. The service, which is highly interactive, is open weekdays to healthcare professionals, as well as the general public, who desire reliable and accurate information on SCD. For membership details,
Stroke Prevention Service: Stroke occurs in about 9% of young children with Hb SS. The detection of children at risk of developing stroke is achieved by Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound screening. TCD of children aged 2 to 16 years is advocated and done on weekdays. Children identified as being at high risk of stroke are then provided with parental counselling and known stroke prevention measures. For the TCD equipment, we are grateful to the Heineken Africa Foundation and to the AMNI International Petroleum Development Company. For further enquiries or to book an appointment, please call 0810 000 2001 or 0803 584 6666.
Leg Ulceration: Leg ulceration is a worrisome problem in a minority (6-7%) of our patients with SCD. These ulcers are notoriously slow to heal and most of them would recur spontaneously after healing. Our Leg Ulcer Treatment team works hard to find ways of inducing rapid healing of the ulcers and of preventing their recurrence.
For further enquiries or to book an appointment, please call 0810 000 2001 or 0803 584 6666.