By Danjuma Amodu | April 19, 2026
ABUJA – The Federal Government has moved to address the burden of bleeding disorders in Nigeria, unveiling a new initiative to identify, diagnose and treat patients as the country marked the 2026 World Haemophilia Day.
Haemophilia is a rare, inherited blood condition that prevents proper clotting. As a result, injuries or cuts take longer to stop bleeding, and patients may experience sudden bleeds in muscles or joints without any obvious cause.
Globally, over 400,000 people live with haemophilia, but the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) estimates that about 75 per cent of people with bleeding disorders are undiagnosed or receive inadequate treatment. The disorder mainly affects males due to low levels of clotting Factor VIII or Factor IX, while females are usually carriers. Without treatment, repeated bleeding into joints and muscles causes severe pain, disability, and can be life-threatening.
In Nigeria, only three per cent of people living with the disorder have been properly diagnosed, creating room for myths, superstition and stigma to compound the lives of those affected. Caring for people with bleeding disorders is also very costly. Treatment with clotting factor concentrates can run into thousands of dollars per patient annually, putting it out of reach for most families.
Until now, care has been largely driven by non-governmental organisations. The Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria (HFN), founded in 2005, and the WFH support treatment centres, donate factor concentrates, and maintain patient registries. Nigeria has a few recognised Haemophilia Treatment Centres, including the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Against this backdrop, the Federal Government, through the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, CON, has stepped in to address the challenges of treatment and the financial burden on families.
The intervention was announced on the sidelines of the 2026 World Haemophilia Day commemoration, held at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, on 17 April 2026. Marked globally every 17 April since 1989, this year’s theme was Diagnosis: The First Step to Care, focused on closing the diagnosis gap.
In collaboration with the WFH and HFN, the Federal Government officially flagged off “The Road To Clot” initiative to identify, diagnose and treat people living with blood disorders, enrol them in a registry for long-term care, and track treatment outcomes.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, represented by Dr Kamil Shoretire, Permanent Secretary Designate and Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, assured patients of government support.
“People with haemophilia, the government sees you, we hear you and from this day on, we will not let you down,” Dr Shoretire said.
As part of its immediate plan, the Federal Government will integrate haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders care into Maternal and Child Health Services at both primary and secondary levels of healthcare. It will also mobilise state governments to improve diagnosis, scale up advocacy and community mobilisation, strengthen research through Universal Newborn Screening, partner with the private sector, and create awareness to improve prevention. The move aligns with Nigeria’s push for Universal Health Coverage under the National Health Act.
Executive Director and Founder of the Haemophilia Foundation of Nigeria, Megan Adediran, commended the Federal Government for recognising the burden of managing haemophilia and setting up a comprehensive plan to streamline care. She was supported by other partners, including Prof Theresa Nwagha of the South East Haemophilia Treatment Centre, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.
Responding to questions on emergency medical coverage for haemophilia patients, Dr Shoretire said NEMSAS covers free ambulance conveyance to facilities and free medical care for the first forty-eight hours.
Dr Shoretire later officially flagged off “The Road To Clot” initiative at the Ministry’s parking lot, where three special ambulances for emergency haemophilia services were on display.
