The Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, a sickle cell advocacy group, has urged the National Assembly to prioritise the enactment of the Sickle Cell Bill.
The appeal, intended to benefit individuals living with sickle cell disease and the broader Nigerian population, was announced in a statement in recognition of World Sickle Cell Day.
The United Nations, during its 63rd General Assembly session in December 2008, identified sickle cell disease as a significant public health issue and one of the most prominent genetic disorders worldwide.
Subsequently, the UN designated June 19 as World Sickle Cell Day to increase global awareness, a tradition that has been observed annually since 2009.
The advocates highlighted the history of the Sickle Cell Bill in Nigeria, noting that it was first debated in the Senate in 2021.
However, the bill has since stalled in the legislative process, failing to progress to the Federal House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Senator Sam Egwu, the bill seeks to establish measures for the prevention, control, and management of sickle cell anemia.
Founding Executive Director of the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative and Chairperson of the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, Toyin Adesola, emphasized the critical need for increased awareness about sickle cell disease.
She underscored the importance of collective action in raising awareness, particularly through initiatives like the Red Umbrella Walk held in various parts of Lagos and Nigeria.
Adesola urged legislators to revisit and pass the Sickle Cell Bill, citing the significant human rights implications for parents and individuals living with the disease.
She recounted previous efforts by the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs to amend the bill in the Senate to address these concerns before it stalled in the House of Representatives.
Adesola criticized the Ministry of Health for not giving adequate attention to sickle cell disease, stressing the need for a focused approach to healthcare legislation.
