Plateau State Government has announced plans to establish a state-wide sickle cell registry and expand health insurance coverage for people living with sickle cell disease as part of efforts to improve healthcare access and reduce preventable deaths associated with the condition.
Gatekeepers News reportd that the initiative was unveiled by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, during activities marking the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day in Jos.
According to Baamlong, the registry will operate under the Ministry of Health’s Non-Communicable Disease Desk and will provide reliable data for planning, surveillance and evidence-based policymaking.
He said the move is aimed at addressing long-standing gaps in sickle cell management while ensuring better coordination among government agencies, healthcare institutions, development partners and civil society organisations.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government will collaborate with the Plateau State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) to broaden insurance coverage for pain management and other essential sickle cell services, ensuring that patients are not denied treatment because of financial constraints.
As part of the strategy, the government plans to integrate newborn and infant screening into routine maternal and child healthcare services, expand genotype testing and premarital counselling, strengthen specialised sickle cell clinics and referral systems, improve access to medicines and vaccines, and train healthcare workers across the state.
Baamlong noted that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally, with thousands of affected children born annually.
He added that many patients continue to face recurring pain crises, severe anaemia, stroke risks, organ complications and social stigma, stressing that the state is committed to improving both medical care and psychosocial support for those living with the condition.
The commissioner urged residents to know their genotype, seek genetic counselling before marriage, embrace newborn screening and support efforts aimed at reducing stigma against people living with sickle cell disease.
