Foundation Seeks Import Duty Waiver On Drugs

The Haemophilia Basis of Nigeria (HFN) has known as on the federal authorities to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians dwelling with inherited bleeding dysfunction often known as haemophilia by supporting entry to analysis and therapy of the illness.

That is whilst the muse known as on the federal authorities to think about waiving import duties on haemophilia medicine, that are donated by world companions and distributed freed from cost to sufferers in Nigeria.

Talking at a press convention in Kaduna as a part of actions marking the Basis’s twentieth anniversary, the chief director and founding father of the muse, Mrs Megan Buckie Adediran, mentioned though an estimated 24,500 Nigerians reside with haemophilia, solely about 500 have been formally recognized.

“This implies over 98 per cent of Nigerians with the situation are undiagnosed,” she mentioned, including that early analysis and entry to therapy stay important problem.

Established in 2005, she mentioned HFN has grown from a small advocacy group right into a nationwide platform championing consciousness, analysis and therapy of haemophilia and different inherited bleeding problems.

“This 12 months’s anniversary aligns with the worldwide theme of World Haemophilia Day: ‘Entry for All – Ladies and Ladies Bleed Too,’” Adediran mentioned. “It attracts consideration to the missed actuality that ladies and ladies additionally undergo from bleeding problems however are sometimes misdiagnosed or uncared for.”

She mentioned bleeding problems in ladies had been significantly harmful throughout childbirth, noting that postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) stays a significant explanation for maternal deaths in Nigeria. Citing information from the Federal Ministry of Well being, she mentioned practically 57,000 ladies died from childbirth-related issues in 2023, with PPH accounting for 22 per cent of the fatalities.

Adediran mentioned cultural myths and lack of understanding proceed to hinder efforts to sort out the situation. “Haemophilia is just not witchcraft, it’s a medical situation,” she mentioned.

She appealed to the federal authorities to incorporate haemophilia therapy in nationwide well being priorities by making certain the provision of clotting issue remedy in authorities hospitals.

“ An individual with Haemophilia is lacking in clothes protein known as issue, bleeds longer not sooner, the illness is just not contagious, it has therapy however no treatment”.

She additionally known as on the Federal Ministry of Finance to waive import duties on haemophilia medicine, which she famous are donated by world companions and distributed freed from cost to sufferers.

Mrs Adeniran disclosed that the muse has attended to no fewer than 878 sufferers for the reason that inception of the muse, stressing that individuals shouldn’t be afraid to hunt assist after they undergo from bleeding past regular, including that most individuals reside with bleeding problems with out realizing.

Some beneficiaries of the free hemophilia medicine shared emotional testimonies throughout the occasion. Victor Ogochukwu, who misplaced a sibling to the situation, mentioned assembly the muse’s founder modified his life.

Timothy Adediran, who had undergone eight blood transfusions earlier than age 10 and is now 29 years previous, mentioned that assist from the Basis helped him regain stability.

For Adamu Idris, he mentioned, entry to ‘Issue’ — the clotting remedy — has allowed him to reside a extra regular and productive life and he not too long ago obtained married.

The occasion ended with calls for presidency, company organisations, and people to rally behind the muse’s efforts to make sure that individuals dwelling with haemophilia in Nigeria obtain the care and dignity they deserve.