Message From The Office Of The President, Nigerian Society For Haematology And Blood Transfusion On Her Golden Jubilee Anniversary

I bring you greetings from the Nigerian Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion. We are happy to announce the unveiling of the Journal Golden Jubilee edition. We commend the body of investigators and academic audience who have continued to patronize our great journal. The past year has certainly been remarkable in the area of blood transfusion with the passage of the Nigerian National Blood Transfusion bill into law by the current Nigeria government. This will certainly open up avenues for increased documentation, efficacy, research and service for our teeming population. Current emphasis on Haemopioetic Stem cell Transplant for sickle cell and various haematological conditions indicates that this aspect of study will encounter more research strides in the future both locally and on the international platform. The Society sincerely aspires that all quickly join this ongoing movement towards improved treatment outcomes and survival. Improved diagnostic capacity for haematological malignancies certainly influences outcome and adoption of standard of care. The past 50 years has noted giant strides in research scope and skilled manpower while seeking the affordable treatment options for this thematic area of haematology practice. We have migrated from morphological diagnostic protocols to some admixture of molecular diagnostic modalities in some locations. While striving to provide evidence-based care, we urge us all to document our cases and seek collaborations across facilities and countries, ensuring cross-breeding of skills and expertise. Management of haemostatic haematological conditions has seen massive strides moving towards the use of gene-editing mechanisms and antibody therapy for inherited bleeding disorders. This branch of practice has also seen remarkable development in sub-specialty expertise and up skilling human resources. The Society will continue to support engagement with international care-based Associations and agencies with the hope of making these treatment modalities availability to all in our clime. Haemoglobinopathies and mainly sickle cell disease as the most frequent inherited haematologic condition in Nigeria has not been left out in the gigantic strides made by the body of Haematologists in Nigeria in the last half a decade. We have seen the advent of evidenced-based care using hydroxyurea and the increasingly active role played by our members in significant multi-national collaborative research within and outside Africa. We have also seen the gradual influx of clinical trials in Nigerian sickle cell populations and we hope this will provide opportunities for wider collaboration and skill acquisition especially in molecular laboratory capacity. We felicitate with the Editorial Board of the Nigerian Journal of Haematology and remain appreciative of their selfless service.

Dr Anazoeze Madu President,
Nigerian Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NSHBT).