FIIRO HOLDS ROUNDTABLE SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON NUTRACEUTICALS AND MANAGEMENT OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE

About 5% of the world’s population is affected with haemoglobin disorders with an estimated 300,000 babies born with severe haemoglobin disorders annually in Africa and about 150,000 of them are Nigerians. Statistics have also shown that over 40 million Nigerians are sickle cell gene carriers.

To ameliorate the suffering of the people suffering from sickle cell disease, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi initiated a programme on development of nutraceutical products (Food supplement) and has developed some novel nutraceutical products suitable for the management of sickle cell anaemic condition.

In order to enhance the development of the products, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi in collaboration with Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation organized a Roundtable Scientific Meeting to subject the products to expert critique on Tuesday, 19^th August, 2014 at Akinrele International Auditorium, FIIRO. The theme of the meeting is “Improving Sickle Cell Anemia Management- The Nutraceutical Approach”

The Meeting was well attended by distinguished experts; some of which are:

• The Chairman of the occasion

Mr. Sule Ozenua – Chairman, Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation (TAHF)

• Keynote Speakers:
  • Prof. Francis O. Shode, Durban University of

Technology, South Africa;

• Dr. Paul Orhii- the Director-General/CEO, NAFDAC.
• Dr. Olu Awosika – Founder, TAHF and Chief Medical Director, Med-In Specialist Hospital.
• Chairman of the Technical Session

Professor K. Shingu Gamaniel, the Director-General/CEO, Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development.

• Technical Paper Presenters:
  • Dr. (Mrs.) G.N Elemo, DG/CEO FIIRO.
  • Viola Nwachukwu
  • Ochuko L. Enukainure
  • Special Guests of Honour
    • Professor Ka’oje Abubakar, Former Minister, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
    • Dr. ‘Leke Pitan, Former Commissioner of Health, Lagos State.
    • Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
    • Dr. Okujagu, DG/CEO, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency.
    • Distinguished invited experts present at the meeting include:
      • Dr. Bazuaye G.N

University of Benin Teaching Hospital,

Benin, Edo State.

• Prof. Awodu A

University of Benin Teaching Hospital,

Benin, Edo State.

• Dr. Ocheni Sunday

UNTH, Enugu,

Enugu State.

• Dr. Ogbe O

National Hospital,

Abuja, FCT.

• Dr. Anthony Oyekunle

OAUTH, Ife,

Osun State.

• Prof. M.O Kehinde

Department of Medicine,

LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

• Dr. Sola Olowoseku

Department of Medicine,

LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

• Dr. A. Adediran

Department of Medicine,

LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

• Prof. Chris Bode

              LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos.

• Dr. K.S Okunade

              LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos.

• Dr. Solanke Ayomide

Department of Medicine,

LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos

• Dr. (Mrs.) D.N Dike

              FIIRO

• Dr. Kenneth U. Nwaeze

              Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

              University of Lagos, Lagos.

• Dr. C.C Igwe

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Dr. (Mrs) O.B Oluwole

FIIRO

• Dr. (Mrs) Funmi Oladunmoye

FIIRO

• Dr. (Mrs.) Oyin Olaokun

              FIIRO, Lagos.

• Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Dr. T.M Balogun

Department of Haematology,

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),

Ikeja, Lagos.

• Dr. Awagu Elizabeth

              NAFDAC, Lagos

• Dr. Bassey Isangedighi

              NAFDAC, Lagos.

• Dr. Chris Adewale

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Dr. Asoro Iro

Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, Lagos

• Dr. I.A Akinbami

Department of Haematology,

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),

Ikeja, Lagos.

• Dr (Mrs.) Ngozi Imaga

              Department of Biochemistry,

              LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos.

• Dr. Dosunmu Adedoyin

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos

• Prof. Martins

Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development.

• Dr. A.K Lawal

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Dr. Oribayo Funke

              LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos.

• Prof. Philip Olatunji

              Shagamu, Ogun State

• Prof. Akinsete

              Ajah, Lagos.

• Mordi J.I

FIIRO, Lagos.

• Dr. Chika Ezeanyanso

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Dr. Ajani S.A

              FIIRO, Lagos

• Kunle Opakunle

              President, TAHFClub

The meeting ended on a very good note and concluded that FIIRO SC1 presents a great potential for the well being of people suffering from sickle cell disease as well as recommended further work on anti-sickling study; toxicological, microbiological and stability profiling; as well as pharmaco-kinetics study.