Revolutionary New Treatment Signals Hope for Sickle Cell Sufferers England approves first drug in 20 years Obinna Chima A major breakthrough has been made in healthcare, giving hope to millions of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) sufferers across the globe, especially in Nigeria which currently ranks highest in rate of SCD
in the world, as the first treatment for the disease in over 20 years has been approved in England by the National Health Service (NHS). The drug, Crizanlizumab, made by Novartis, is injected into a vein and can be taken on its own or alongside standard treatment and
regular blood transfusions. And in a trial, patients taking the crizanlizumab had a sickle-cell crisis 1.6 times a year on average, compared with nearly three times a year normally. The NHS which disclosed this in a statement posted on its
website yesterday, described the development as revolutionary. People with SCD endure severe pain during the ‘sickle cell crisis’ that can occur multiple times per year, often requiring hospital admission so they can be given morphine to control the pain and
prevent organ failure which can be fatal. Announcing the new treatment, NHS’ chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said the drug deal would help as many as 5,000 people over the next three years to have a much better quality of life.
Nigeria has an estimated 25 per cent of its adult population being carriers of defective S-gene. SCD is a genetic (hereditary) disorder that occurs when an individual has inherited two mutant (abnormal) Continued on page 10
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Pressure Mounts on US to Designate IPOB Terrorist Org Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja There is mounting pressure on the United States government to designate secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a terrorist organisation. An article in Washington Times is calling on US authorities to
designate IPOB a terror group following acts of violence and mindless killings linked to it. The article, noted that, IPOB had curiously sued the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin in a U.S. federal court. Dr. Chike Akunyili, widower of
former NAFDAC DG and Minister of Information, the late Dr. Dora Akunyili and eight others were killed in Onitsha, Anambra State, last week, including several other assassinations and killing of security agents linked to the group. Others killed in the same grue-
some manner included a former Head of Scientific Equipment Development Institute, Enugu, Professor SN Ndubisi; a federal high court Judge, Justice Stanley Nnaji; a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak; a traditional ruler, Chief Alexander Eduzueuno; Anglican priest, Rev. Emeka
Merenu; and a young lawyer, Darlington Prime, among many others. There were, however, arguments that there might be other groups exploiting the situation in the South-eastern part of the country to perpetrate criminal activities.
The piece written by the Executive Director of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore, Ivan Sascha Sheehan, expressed displeasure that, "the violent secessionist group in question – the Continued on page 42
Anambra Poll: Yakubu Sounds the Alarm, Says Security Never Been This Urgent Worries over safety of staff, voters, security personnel Alleges situation in state and environs has deteriorated badly Declares electoral facilities, materials may be targets of attacks Wants 26,000 more staff deployed, 6,000 locations protected NSA blames security breaches on separatist agitators IG orders immediate replacement of police commissioner Chuks Okocha in Abuja Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday, painted a rather disturbing situation report on the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State, saying never before in nation’s
history was the importance of governorship election security as urgent as it is today in Anambra. The INEC boss, who raised concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the State, also expressed worry over the safety of his staff, voters and Continued on page 10
BOOSTING NIGERIA-SOUTH SUDAN RELATIONS... President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir Mayardit, before departing Addis Ababa, Ethiopia...yesterday
Oil Price Continues Bullish Run, Now $83.4 as OPEC Delays Nigeria's Request for New Baseline... Page 5