Sickle cell: Lagos begins screening babies within 72 hours of birth

The Lagos State Government has commenced the screening of newborn babies for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) wrong 48 to 72 hours aft commencement arsenic portion of efforts to beforehand aboriginal diagnosis and trim puerility deaths associated with the condition.

A connection by the Lagos State Government said the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr. Akinyele Akinlade, disclosed this during the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day solemnisation organised by the hospital’s Haematology Department.

Commending the authorities authorities for the initiative, Akinlade described the rollout of the newborn screening programme arsenic a large milestone successful the combat against Sickle Cell Disease crossed Lagos State.

He explained that each newborn volition present beryllium screened utilizing a elemental heel-prick trial wrong the archetypal 48 to 72 hours aft birth, portion babies recovered to beryllium astatine hazard volition beryllium placed connected preventive attraction pending confirmatory testing.

Akinlade described sickle compartment illness arsenic an inherited humor upset that is not contagious, noting that radical surviving with the information are much susceptible to infections.

He advised individuals surviving with sickle compartment illness to enactment decently hydrated, debar stress, and support themselves from utmost weathe...