by ‘Jola Sotubo
Relief might be in sight for sufferers of the dreaded sickle cell disease and for many people whose options for marriage are restricted due to incompatible genotypes.
A Benin based expert has stated that people living with sickle cell anaemia can now change their genotypes and be free of the disease.
Dr. Bazuaye Nosakhare, a Consultant Hematologist, said on Monday that a sickle cell patient could now change his or her genotype from SS to AA through bone marrow transplant.
Nosakhare spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on the sidelines at the start of a “Champions of Hope Walk”, organised by Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation to create awareness about sickle cell anaemia.
Read the Nigeria Eagle report below:
Nosakhare, who works at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State, said that there was a cure for Sickle Cell Disease through bone marrow transplant.
He said that in 2009, he along with three others went to Basel, Switzerland to undertake a one-year training in stem cell transplant. He said that the procedure had proven to be successful against many blood-related disorders.
He said shortly after the team’s return, a five-year-old Mattew Ndik’s blood was drained and replaced with that of his brother, whose blood had no trace of sickle cell anemia.
He said within the first 100 days after the procedure, the SS blood group gradually disappeared and was replaced with the AA blood.
He said: “I am into bone marrow transplantation for cure of sickle cell and we have successfully done two.
“What stem cell or bone marrow transplant does is to change the genotype from SS to AA and so the patient no longer has crisis and the cells are no longer giving problems, so the patient has what we can call a cure.
Nosakhare said the process was rigorous and technical, adding that it required uninterrupted electricity supply, expensive drugs and a willing blood donor.
He said that the donor would be on admission for weeks so that his blood could be certified through radiotherapy. He said: “As a result, it is a very costly process
“It is expensive, but comparatively, it’s about N5 million in Nigeria now, but in Europe, it’s between N20 million to N40 million.
“If there is collaboration between Federal Government and NGOs, we feel this thing could be made cheap and affordable to every Nigerian.
“For those who suffer from sickle cell, there is hope that one, if they follow good hygiene and avoid crisis, they could live as long as you and I. “And then, for those who are very severe, there is hope for a cure with stem cell transplantation.
Pls how can someone with sickel cell get acces to the treatment.
I must say that I’m so pleaded with this scientific break through I give God the Glory to bestow knowledge and widom to you to carry out your responsibility to serve humanity. I was also desperate in looking for such cure or any cure to help such people. I want to know, individuals suffering from necrosis I.e. Avascular necrosis, after the transfusion is done, would such a case be reversed or still requires an operation. And is such blood transfusion or transplant done to any individual regardless of age not just the young? Also, I pray a time comes when its most affordable to if at all-all Nigerian because of its cost and the FG looks into it. Lastly, I know you all must have all done your researches & home work well but SS isn’t the only genotype of a sickle cell anaemia. There is SC, now those this also mean such people could find a perfect blood donor AA to match?
Great to hear we can be cured here in Nigeria.
The procedure has been in place for a long while now…though I do hope the Nigerian treatment will be affordable
Great scientist, let’s make our profession proud with new discoveries. Kudos to this great finders
We tank God for the knowledge he is giving to science and technology to continue discovering the solutions to all these deadly diseases dat people are suffering from.
I thank god 4 mai life