Successful bone marrow transplant for sickle cell patients has been achieved by the Hematology Department of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Benin, Benin City.
Dr. Nosa Bazuaye and his team who performed this feat seven months ago, stated that bone cell transplant was the only solution that could turn blood group AS to AA, for sickle cell patients.
According to the medical doctor, a bone cell transplant performed on Mr. Martin Ndu, was actually the first, in sub Saharan Africa, which transformed his health condition from AS to AA.
Answering questions on why the patient was still being hospitalized after seven months of performing the break through, he stated that there were challenges posed in the area of equipment as well as the patient, saying that to avoid breakdown the patient was retained for effective treatment.
He further stated that the cost of treatment for a sickle cell patient is very enormous. He said considering the fact that this break-through was no mean feat, the appropriate supervising Health authority, should as a matter of urgency put in motion the mechanism for proper funding of the department for optimum performance. The need to procure the right equipment for the treatment of sickle cell anemia should not be over emphasized.
Also, medical personnel from the department as well as those to man the procured equipment should be offered both local and overseas training to further enhance their performance in that direction.
Aside, Government at all levels should come in here, to subsidize the funding for the treatment of sickle cell patients, since a large spectrum of carriers do not have the financial muscle to do that, he concluded.# ##
By Azuka Dibie
