World Haemophilia Day is observed annually on April 17, with the 2026 theme set as "Diagnosis: First Step to Care." This highlights the critical role of early detection in managing haemophilia, a genetic disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factors VIII or IX, leading to prolonged or spontaneous bleeding. The condition is inherited in an X-linked pattern, primarily affecting males. Globally, over 400,000 people live with haemophilia, but more than 300,000 remain undiagnosed, according to the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH). In Nigeria, Professor Sulaimon Akanmu estimates 18,000 people should have haemophilia, yet only 941 cases are documented. Professor Titilope Adeyemo of Lagos University Teaching Hospital states that just six per cent of cases are diagnosed in Nigeria, compared to 81 per cent in developed nations. Mrs Olaide Saviour, raising three sons with haemophilia, described years of misdiagnosis, including attributing symptoms to spiritual causes. One son suffered a brain bleed after school flogging, initially misdiagnosed as malaria. Sixteen-year-old David Ademibe endured multiple transfusions before diagnosis. Dr Patrick Uju, coordinator of the North Central Chapter of the Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria, revealed he diagnosed his own condition only after 16 years in medical practice. Dr Alayo Sopekan of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said haemophilia will be included in the next national health survey. The HFN's "Road to Clot: Reaching the Undiagnosed" initiative aims to bring screening to communities.
Dr Patrick Uju practised medicine for 16 years before diagnosing his own haemophilia, exposing a dangerous gap in Nigeria's medical training and awareness. Families like Mrs Olaide Saviour's endure repeated emergencies without timely diagnosis, relying on personal vigilance rather than a responsive health system. With only six per cent of Nigeria's estimated cases diagnosed, millions of naira in emergency care could be avoided through early detection. The planned national health survey inclusion is a step forward, but only if it translates to community-level action.
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