Nigeria has world’s highest burden of sickle cell disease, with over 1.5m affected children, landmark Lancet study finds
A major international study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health has found that Nigeria carries the highest burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) globally, with an estimated 1.5 million children under 15 living with the condition.
The research reveals that nearly nine million children across sub-Saharan Africa were living with SCD in 2023, including 1.17 million infants and 2.75 million children under five—who face the highest risk of early death without treatment. Nigeria accounts for the largest share, far exceeding other high-burden countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. The findings highlight both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity for Nigeria to lead Africa in tackling one of the most preventable causes of childhood illness and death.
Led by Professor Davies Adeloye, Professor of Public Health at Teesside University, UK, and Director of the International Society of Global Health (ISoGH), the study analyzed data from 40 studies across 22 African countries to produce the most comprehensive country-level estimates of childhood SCD to date.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder present at birth. With early diagnosis and access to simple, low-cost interventions—including newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis, routine vaccinations, malaria prevention, and hydroxyurea—most complications and deaths can be prevented. However, in Nigeria, access to these essential services remains limited. Many children are diagnosed only after severe, avoidable complications, while others are never diagnosed at all, contributing to high levels of preventable illness and early childhood deaths.
Professor Adeloye stated, “Nigeria now stands at the centre of the global sickle cell crisis. With over 1.5 million children affected, the scale is enormous, but so is the opportunity to act. We already know what works. Newborn screening and early treatment are effective, affordable, and can be delivered through existing health systems. If Nigeria prioritises sickle cell disease within its national health agenda and integrates care into routine maternal and child health services, we could save hundreds of thousands of young lives.”
The researchers emphasize that strengthening Nigeria’s health system response is critical, including expanding newborn screening, improving access to essential medicines, and integrating SCD care into primary healthcare services. The study calls for urgent, coordinated action across government, health institutions, and development partners, alongside increased domestic investment, international partnerships, and stronger data systems for surveillance and policy guidance.
The authors conclude that even modest improvements in early-life screening and treatment in high-burden countries like Nigeria could transform child survival and significantly reduce preventable deaths.
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