Professor Imelda Bates of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (right), and Professor Obiageli Nnodu of University of Abuja
By Felix Khanoba
The University of Abuja’s (UniAbuja ) Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRTA) is spearheading a £3 million initiative aimed at transforming sickle cell disease (SCD) care across Africa.
The four-year Patient-Centred Sickle Cell Disease Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PACTS) project, funded by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research, is now entering its final phase.
Jointly led by Professor Imelda Bates (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), and Professor Obiageli Nnodu (University of Abuja) PACTS brings together leading institutions including Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Zambia, Imperial College London, and Syracuse University.
“This milestone reflects the tireless work of our teams, the voices of our patients, and the power of partnerships,” said Nnodu, who is also the director, Centre of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease Research and Training (CESRTA) at the University of Abuja. “As we move into the next phase, we are doubling down on translating research into systems that serve the most vulnerable communities.”
The project which aims to improve early diagnosis, access to quality care, and service delivery models for individuals living with SCD across Nigeria, Ghana, and Zambia, has introduced participatory action circles (PACs), platforms that allow patients, families, and community leaders to co-design solutions to problems like stigma, access, and affordability,” said Bates and Nnodu, in a release signed over the weekend and made available to the media.
Recent findings from a study involving over 300 patients at six health centres in Abuja, according to the two scholars revealed major barriers to care, including long travel distances, high out-of-pocket costs, poor access to healthy diets, and persistent reliance on traditional remedies.
Early this year, CESRTA and the Sickle Cell Society of Nigeria hosted the 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease in Abuja, drawing researchers, policymakers, and families from across the world.
The PACTS project continues to collaborate with insurance providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and media partners to improve access and promote equitable care, with a strong focus on patient safety and ethical engagement.
