Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world, with over 150,000 babies born every year carrying the condition. Many families, particularly in the North East, face the added challenges of poverty, conflict, and limited access to healthcare, leaving children vulnerable to pain crises, complications, and shortened lives.

In response, Alkali Health Trust, in partnership with Bin-Dawood Hospital, launched its inaugural Sickle Cell Prophylaxis Support Programme in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Through this programme, enrolled children receive:

• Daily prophylactic medications (Hydroxyurea, Folic Acid, Paludrine)

• Monthly blood tests (PCV, malaria screening) and clinical reviews

• Initial genotype and blood group testing, plus deworming

• Health education sessions for caregivers to support long-term care at home

At an annual cost of just ₦180,000 ($116 / £87) per child, this initiative is giving children a chance at fewer pain crises, more days in school, and healthier futures.

Currently, the programme supports 150 children and their families, with the aim of scaling further as resources grow.

 With your support, we can protect more children, strengthen families, and build healthier communities — one prescription, one child, one future at a time.

Diabetes affects nearly every part of the body, from the eyes and heart to the kidneys and nerves, yet many people remain undiagnosed until complications occur.

To commemorate World Diabetes Awareness Month, Alkali Health Trust, in collaboration with Bin-Dawood Hospital, is implementing a community diabetes screening and treatment project in Maiduguri. This project provides a proactive, accessible, and fully sponsored opportunity for early detection, management, and education.

Project Details

Screening will take place every Wednesday and Sunday throughout November 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Bin-Dawood Hospital in Maiduguri. Each session will accommodate participants on a first-come, first-served basis, with an overall goal of reaching at least two hundred beneficiaries during the month.

Beneficiaries will receive health checks, including blood pressure, height, weight, and random blood sugar assessments. Those found to have elevated blood sugar will be invited for confirmatory fasting blood sugar testing. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes will be initiated on first-line medication, Metformin, and offered monthly follow-up to monitor blood sugar control and adjust medication where necessary. Those with high blood pressure will receive first-line antihypertensive medication and regular monitoring.

Education is an important part of this project. Participants will receive verbal counselling and simple, easy-to-read pamphlets explaining how everyday foods such as rice, maize, wheat, and yam affect blood sugar levels. This approach will help individuals understand how to make better food choices and adopt lifestyles that prevent or control diabetes.

Expected Outcomes

This project will help identify undiagnosed cases of diabetes and hypertension, promote early treatment, and reduce the risk of serious complications such as stroke, kidney failure, and blindness. It will also improve community understanding of how food and lifestyle choices influence health while strengthening collaboration between Alkali Health Trust, Bin-Dawood Hospital, and local communities.

Sustaining the Vision Beyond November

While this initiative coincides with World Diabetes Awareness Month, it is part of a broader and ongoing commitment by Alkali Health Trust to reduce the burden of diabetes in Northern Nigeria.

The Trust seeks continued support from partners, donors, and advocates to sustain diabetes prevention efforts beyond November. Long-term goals include extending screening services to more communities, supporting patients with consistent medication, and increasing public awareness about healthy living.

Together, we can make diabetes prevention a lasting reality, not just a month-long campaign.

Cardiovascular diseases are a growing cause of premature death. Our initiative will promote awareness of risk factors such as diet, exercise, and blood pressure monitoring while encouraging proactive prevention and management.

Late diagnosis and limited screening mean cancer outcomes remain poor. Our campaign will focus on community education, early signs awareness, and advocacy for better access to screening and treatment pathways.

We are committed to tackling other health challenges relevant to Nigeria and similar settings, including maternal health, infectious diseases, and mental health support. Each programme will combine education, prevention, and access to care because we believe informed communities are healthier communities.