Pinecrest Healthcare – partnership with Biorad Laboratories – sponsored this year’s world sickle cell day celebration. The two days event took place at Federal Medica Center Keffi and Reiz Continental Hotels Abuja on the 18th and 19th of June 2013 respectively. It was organized by Nigeria Sickle Cell Disease Network – in liaison with Federal Ministry of Health. The theme of this year’s conference is “Newborn Screening in Nigeria – Developing Policy.” One of the key highlights of the conference took place on the first day during which there were presentations on Laboratory Diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disorders.
The participants also had hands-on training on the use of Variant nbs (HPLC) System installed at Federal Medical Center Keffi – Nasarawa State. Also the principle behind the HPLC system was explained to the participants.
The key dignitaries that attended the conference include: the first lady of Katsina State and the initiator / promoter of Service To Humanity Foundation – Hajia Fatima Ibrahim Shema. The guest lecturer – Dr Baba Inusa – Director, Paediatric Comprehensive Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre, Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospital, London, UK.
The keynote address speaker – Prof. Iheanyi Okpala – Head, Department of Hematology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Prof. Adekunle .D. Adekile – President, Nigerian Sickle Cell Disease Network and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait, University, Kuwait. Dr Alayo Sopekan – Desk Officer incharge of Sickle Cell Disease at Federal Ministry of Health Abuja. This year’s events is the best so far in the annals of Sickle Cell Day celebration in Nigeria.