878 Nigerians receiving treatment for Haemophilia – Group

As the world observes the annual Haemophilia day, on Friday, the Executive Director of Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN), Mrs Megan Adediran has disclosed that no fewer than 878 patients and are currently undergoing treatment across the country.

Addressing a press conference in their headquarters in Kaduna on Tuesday with the theme, “Access for all: Women and Girls bleed too, Adediran noted that women too suffers bleeding disorders, saying, it is not only men that are vulnerable to the disease.

“In 2023 alone, nearly 57,000 mothers died from pregnancy, and child complications, with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) identified as a significant contributor to these health according to statistics obtained from the Federal Ministry of Health.

She said since 2005 HFN has tried to bring visibility, dignity, and medical support to Nigerians living with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders.

“Over the past two decades, HFN has grown from a small advocacy group into a national voice where many lives were saved. Today many young children who were helpless and hopeless have found life and are today graduates and proud parents.”

However, she stated that diagnosing the ailment remains very low in the country. She also mentioned that the cost of medications is extremely high, making them difficult for ordinary Nigerians to access.

The ED also posited that, “there’s the need to create more awareness as many people still believe that carriers of the disease are attack by witches.While in the real sense, it is not witchcraft but a disease.

Another problem is, “The heavy customs duty they place on drugs we did not buy but donated by partners. That’s why we are calling for government to intervene.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE