GENOTYPE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA.
I recently read about a very sensitive issue in
an article on Vanguard Newspaper relating to sickle
cell patients and how technology can be used as a
measure. Even as i read through all i could think of
was the amout of people that are affected by sickle
cell and the pain they go through each day.Imagine
an environment like ours where health care is not
given attention, how do children survive the pain
especially when they come from poor homes.
This was addressed by Dr. Godwin Bazuaye who is a
consultant dermatologist and specialist in bone
marrow transplants. He graduated from the
University of Benin and trained in the same school.
He later went to Switzerland for sub-specialization
in bone marrow transplantation. Currently, he is
head of Human Dermatology and Co-ordinator of
Stem Cell Transplant Unit at the University of Benin
Teaching Hospital, UBTH.
He recently stated how the hospital successfully
completed two stem cell transplants and how
Nigerians can benefit from the technology locally,
rather than going abroad to change their genotype,
especially sickle cell patients. The body accept new
cells to be transplanted. In this unit, you can change
the genotype of a child or an individual from sickle
cell to AA. You bring a primitive cell from a donor to
a recipient. Before this time, you would have
reduced the immunity in the patient to the barest
minimum so that he can accept what you are giving
to him, called stem cell. It can also be used for
cancer patients. Major beneficiaries are sickle cell
patients. Once it is done, they are no longer sicklers.
Similarly, they don’t collect blood from the veins;
needle is used on the bone marrow to bring out
blood. Usually, the risk is very minimal. To the donor,
there is no risk in the procedure, except the risk that
has to do with going to the theatre. Apparently, the
last patient was a 14 year-old boy. By the third day,
he had gone home and he resumed school the next
day. For the patient, the risk is very low, as it has to
do with the hard drugs, which the body could react
to. For the patient, they are placed on very high
drugs in the course of destroying the bone marrow.
It could lead to side effects reaction.
The therapy is used for both the sickle cell and blood
cancer patients; in fact, anything that has to do with
taking a cell from a donor to cure the patient. Really,
for sickle cell patients, it is preferable when they are
15 years and below because when they are older,
they tend to need a lot of blood transfusion, their
organs may get damaged. Although, there is a new
method we use for adult sickle cell patients; that is
also to change their genotype to AS.
The only problem i have is with the cost of the
treatment which he stated on the average, costs
between N8m-N6m, depending on the number of
supportive care. If there is support of the Federal
Government in the way of subsidising the
equipments in a space that is big enough to take five
to10 people at a time, then it will reduce the cost.
Although the procedure takes an average of three
months or 100 days because at that period, you have
a lot of tests and checks involved, though some may
be discharged before one hundred days.
The therapy is good for both sickle cell and anything
that has to do with cell transplant. This is the first in
West Africa and third in the whole of Africa, after
Egypt and South Africa. This can be replicated in the
six geo-political zones. India for instance, has about
20 centres. An average of N1 billion should be able
to set up a centre.
THIS IS HONESTLY A BRILLIANT DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

This story long oo,

I go comment when someone summarises what is written above.

U knw na.. FTC...

tolutweety: This story long oo,

I go comment when someone summarises what is written above.

U knw na.. FTC...

I don tire

authe911:

I don tire