A LUTH/SCFN bone marrow transplant programme which consists of a high-level multidisciplinary team that includes paediatricians, adult haematologists, psychiatrists, anaesthesiologists, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and other ancillary health personnel has commenced bone marrow transplant for sickle cell patients at the hospital.
It said the programme had been guided by the scientific expertise and leadership of Prof. Adetola Kassim of Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, stressing that to further strengthen expertise in the programme, Prof. Josudela Fuente from the Imperial College London Healthcare NHS Trust UK joined the team in 2022.
The statement said: “The first set of patients is currently undergoing bone marrow transplants at LUTH and was admitted in the last week of August 2024.
“They received a treatment regimen of exchange blood transfusions, chemotherapy and anti-infective prophylaxis to prepare them for the infusion of bone marrow stem cells that were harvested from family donors, processed and given 17 and 19 September 2024.
“Both patients are currently undergoing immediate post-transplant care within the transplant unit at LUTH.
“We want to express our appreciation to patients and families, the management of LUTH and SCFN, board of directors, the Lagos State government, Chevron, collaborative and technical partners, and other dedicated workers who worked around the clock to ensure success of this programme”.
