Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday June 7, inaugurated a state-of-the-art Paediatric Sickle Cell Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja.
The two-storey facility, dedicated to the treatment and management of sickle cell disease in children, was donated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), led by Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.
Sanwo-Olu lauded the donation as a “remarkable contribution” to the state’s healthcare system, emphasising its strategic importance in enhancing the response to sickle cell cases and reducing infant mortality.
He commended Princess Orelope-Adefulire for her dedication to healthcare improvement, noting that the new centre will significantly expand paediatric care services in Lagos.
“This collaboration with the Office of the SSA to the President on SDGs highlights our collective commitment to improving care for children with sickle cell disease.
This facility will provide comprehensive care, including early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and continuous management, and will also serve as a research and education hub,” said Sanwo-Olu.
The governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and for recognizing Lagos as a beneficiary of this vital intervention. He reiterated the President’s vision to enhance national health capacity and achieve global health coverage.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, acknowledged the burden of sickle cell disease on families and communities, urging optimal use of the new facility to provide top-tier care for patients and support for researchers.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the pressing need for advanced medical care for sickle cell disease, noting that three million Nigerians are affected.
She underscored the importance of this initiative in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3, Target 2, aimed at ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five by 2030.
LASUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Adetokunbo Fabanwo, and Head of the Paediatrics, Haematology, and Oncology Unit, Dr. Ijeoma Akinwumi, detailed the comprehensive services the center will offer.
Equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, a multi-disciplinary unit, and electronic medical records, the center is designed to provide holistic care for children with sickle cell disease from birth to 18 years old.
The facility is expected to significantly alleviate the burden on LASUTH’s Paediatric Unit, offering a conducive environment for both outpatient and inpatient care.
