From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Government has said that plans are underway to integrate haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders care and services into maternal and child health services, especially at the primary and secondary levels of healthcare in Nigeria, to improve early identification of cases and enrolment into comprehensive care for inherited bleeding disorders.
In a statement issued to Triumph in Abuja by the Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Haemophilia Day held in Abuja.
Represented by Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Permanent Secretary Designate and Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, the minister expressed concern over the prevalence of persons living with haemophilia in Nigeria, estimated at 21,101.
He noted that only 3% of this population have been diagnosed, indicating a severe problem of under-diagnosis and ineffective management.
He stated that the lack of adequate knowledge about haemophilia and its management among healthcare providers is a serious public health concern that is likely to increase morbidity and mortality.
Professor Pate said the theme of the 2026 World Haemophilia Day, “Diagnosis: The First Step to Care,” resonates deeply with national health priorities, adding that it underscores a significant fact: no patient can receive appropriate care without first being correctly diagnosed.
He emphasized that for haemophilia patients and others with inherited bleeding disorders, early diagnosis is the difference between life and preventable complications, between disability and productivity, and between despair and hope.
The Coordinating Minister further explained that the event provides a unique opportunity to highlight the transformation of care and the strengthening of diagnosis as the gateway to the entire continuum of care from treatment and rehabilitation to prevention and long-term management.
It also aims to empower individuals and families affected by these conditions by building strong support networks, promoting awareness, and engaging healthcare providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advocate for better policies and services.
He announced the launch of the National Bleeding Disorders Registry in Nigeria and added that, in recognition of the huge burden of haemophilia in the country, the government, in collaboration with the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) and the Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN), is set to officially flag off the “Road to Clot Initiative,” aimed at identifying undiagnosed persons living with bleeding disorders, linking them to diagnostic and treatment centres, and connecting them to long-term care.
On the socio-economic and psychological trauma caused by haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders, Professor Pate said the government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has over the years instituted policies and strategic interventions to address the challenges.
These include the development of a National Guideline for Inherited Bleeding Disorders in Nigeria to ensure standardization and uniformity of care across all levels of healthcare service delivery, as well as programmes for sickle cell disease (SCD) in Nigeria.
Other measures include the establishment of the Multisectoral Action Program (MSAP) Technical Committee involving various MDAs to address the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, as well as advocacy and mass mobilization for awareness creation on inherited bleeding disorders and the importance of genetic counselling and testing in some parts of the country.
He called on stakeholders, including the media and civil society organizations, to make concerted efforts to raise awareness and support the initiative, noting that this will help reduce the prevalence of inherited bleeding disorders in Nigeria.
In her goodwill message, Megan Buckie Adediran, Executive Director of the Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN), described the day as a reminder of every journey, silent struggle, victory, and life touched by bleeding disorders.
She commended healthcare workers and partners for standing in the gap, believing that every life matters, and working tirelessly to improve care and access. She noted that, collectively, Nigeria can become a nation where every person with a bleeding disorder lives a full, healthy, and dignified life.
Also presenting a goodwill message, Professor Theresa Nwagha, Vice President (Medical) of the Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN), said the flag-off of the “Road to Clot: Reaching the Undiagnosed” programme marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey toward health equity for people living with rare blood disorders.
She stated that the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between silence and science, with its primary objectives including community-based screening, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and strengthening of the national registry, in alignment with national health goals.
Five ambulances were launched at the flag-off of the “Road to Clot Initiative,” signifying efforts to reach undiagnosed persons living with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, especially in hard-to-reach areas, to ensure they are identified, diagnosed, and given appropriate care.
