A University lecturer, Prof. Marcellinus Nwagu, has revealed that there are about 200 registered haematologists in Nigeria serving a population of about 200 million people.

Nwagu, who spoke at the 17th inaugural lectures series of Edo University Iyamho titled: “We are transporters, we are soldiers; we are sealants, we swim in our waters, but we have our problems,” said one haematologist serving a population of one million Nigerians is unacceptable.

He said there is an urgent need to create more centres for blood bank as the Aphaeresis machine used to prepare blood products is not available in many of the hospitals.

Nwagu called on the Federal Government to establish stem cell transplantation centres in all the geographical zones in the country to make the services available and affordable to average Nigerians.

The professor of haematology and blood transfusion at the Edo University said treatment and managing sickle cells is generally to alleviate symptoms and promote good quality of life, adding that the only cure for sickle cell disease is successful haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Bone marrow transplantation).

According to him, for the prevention of the disease, more awareness needs to be created.

Nwagu noted that the awareness is still low in rural communities, especially in faith-based institutions/churches. “We recommend more awareness to be created in the churches and free routine population screening to be encouraged in primary schools, as many adults don’t even know their haemoglobin genotype.”

The inaugural lecturer, however, recommended a compulsory determination of sickle cell status among prospective couples before getting married. “If possible, let there be legislation making sickle cell screening compulsory before marriage.

“There should be a programme by the government to ensure cytotoxic drugs are available in our hospitals and affordable, like the pepfar programme for HIV drugs.

“Nigerian first ladies should take it as their pet projects to sponsor one HbSS transplant per year, making 36 cases per year and 142 cases per tenure of four years.

He wants the government to subsidise the cost of diagnosis and management of haematological cancers, provide up-to-date diagnostic equipment (morphology is not enough) and ensure implementation of health policy that would benefit patients with haematological cancer”

Earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Dawood Egbefo, said the inaugural lecture would soon be a key criterion for further academic progression.