Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has called for integration of Sickle Cell Disorder Research and Therapy Centres into Teaching Hospitals across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
She made the call on Tuesday while contributing to a bill sponsored by Senator Katung Sunday Marshall, which seeks to create dedicated centres for research and treatment of sickle cell disorder in Nigeria.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that rather than establishing the centres as stand-alone institutions, they should be integrated into existing university teaching hospitals to enhance research capacity and improve patient care.
“This will help strengthen, broaden, and deepen research and therapy, especially given recent global innovations such as the use of stem cell therapy in treating sickle cell patients,” she said.
She noted that linking the centres to existing facilities would simplify the establishment process and reduce government spending.
“To ensure efficiency and avoid unnecessary financial entanglements, it is critical that these centres are established within university teaching hospitals in each geopolitical zone,” she added.
