The Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Sunday Katung, has revealed that the institution of proposed Sickle Cell Dysfunction Analysis and Remedy Centres throughout the nation will value about ₦4.7 billion.
Katung, who sponsored the invoice at the moment earlier than the Senate, disclosed this throughout an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday. The invoice, which has handed second studying, seeks to create institutional and authorized frameworks for the institution, administration, and operation of the centres.
In line with him, the mission will probably be funded by the federal authorities, noting that the {financial} estimate is an integral a part of the proposed laws.
“In a typical invoice of this nature, there’s a price factor connected to it. The whole value to arrange the centres within the first occasion is ₦4.7 billion,” Katung stated. He defined that whereas the present plan entails establishing one centre in every geopolitical zone, the Senate will think about more cost effective choices through the public listening to part.
“Some senators, together with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, instructed that every centre may very well be connected to an present educating hospital throughout the zones. These choices will probably be evaluated through the public listening to,” he added.
The lawmaker described the invoice as a significant step in addressing Nigeria’s rising burden of sickle cell dysfunction (SCD), which stays one of many nation’s most severe hereditary ailments.
He famous that the centres would give attention to prognosis, remedy, analysis, and public schooling to cut back mortality and lift consciousness about preventive measures.
“Out of over 300,000 youngsters who die earlier than the age of 5 because of this illness globally, 150,000 are Nigerians. Nigeria ranks first in Africa and second on the earth as the very best service of the dysfunction,” Katung stated. Sharing his motivation for sponsoring the invoice, the senator recounted a private expertise from 25 years in the past that left an enduring impression on him.
“I as soon as witnessed a toddler affected by sickle cell disaster begging his dad and mom to let him die as a result of they couldn’t afford hospital payments. That painful second impressed me to take up this trigger as soon as I had the chance,” he recounted emotionally.
Katung said that the proposed laws wouldn’t solely enhance entry to remedy but in addition rekindle stalled analysis efforts towards discovering an enduring treatment for sickle cell illness.
“This initiative will deliver remedy nearer to the individuals, enhance public information about genetic compatibility in marriages, and doubtlessly revive analysis that might result in a treatment,” he stated.
He additional disclosed that the primary part of the mission would cowl the six geopolitical zones earlier than being expanded to native authorities areas throughout the nation.
The invoice, when handed into legislation, is predicted to offer a sustainable framework for decreasing Nigeria’s excessive mortality charge from sickle cell dysfunction and improve the nation’s medical analysis capability.