Nigeria has the highest number of people with sickle cell disease globally. A blood disorder marked by debilitating complications and a short life span, it causes breakdown of the hip joint. Affected persons live daily in constant pain and are rendered immobile. The only treatment that brings them reprieve is hip replacement surgery. Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria wants to provide free hip replacement surgery for 12 indigent persons with this condition over a 1 year period.
Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally. It is a devastating, disease associated with excruciating pain, untimely death and sorrow. It causes degeneration of the hip joint in half of affected adults. Hip replacement surgery is the only treatment that brings them relief, but at $8,000 per patient, it is beyond the reach of most. This project will be providing FREE surgery for 12 affected, indigent Nigerians over a 1 year period freeing and allowing them walk again
Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria will identify 12 indigent sickle cell patients from different zones of Nigeria with degeneration of the hip joint and provide them with the life-changing and life-saving hip replacement surgery - FREE. The surgeries will be performed locally at $8,000 per patient in collaboration with National Orthopaedic Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria's leading orthopaedic hospital.
The hip replacement surgery will allow these indigent patients walk again and bring them reprieve and relief from pain, which they would otherwise never have been able to afford. With the restrictions of the hip degeneration removed, they will have a new lease of life and begin to contribute meaningfully to their communities and society at large.
