A new international study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health has revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of children living with sickle cell disease, SCD globally, with over 1.5 million affected under the age of 15.
The study estimates that nearly nine million children across sub-Saharan Africa were living with the condition in 2023, including about 1.17 million infants and 2.75 million children under five, who face the greatest risk of early death without treatment.
Nigeria accounts for the largest share of this burden, significantly surpassing other high-prevalence countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia.
The research, led by Davies Adeloye of Teesside University and Director of the International Society of Global Health, analysed data from 40 studies across 22 African countries, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of childhood SCD on the continent.
Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder present at birth. Experts note that early diagnosis and access to low-cost interventions—including newborn screening, routine vaccinations, malaria prevention, penicillin prophylaxis, and the use of Hydroxyurea—can significantly reduce complications and prevent deaths.
However, access to these services remains limited in Nigeria, where many children are diagnosed late or not at all, leading to avoidable complications and high mortality rates.
Commenting on the findings, Adeloye said Nigeria is now at the centre of the global sickle cell crisis but also has a major opportunity to reverse the trend.
He noted that integrating sickle cell care into routine maternal and child health services, alongside scaling up newborn screening programmes, could save hundreds of thousands of lives.
The study called for urgent and coordinated action involving government, healthcare institutions, and development partners to expand screening, improve access to essential medicines and vaccines, and strengthen primary healthcare systems.
Researchers added that even modest improvements in early detection and treatment in high-burden countries like Nigeria could significantly improve child survival rates and reduce preventable deaths.
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