The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said on Saturday that Federal Government has established six sickle cell reference centres in six Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) across the country.

Adewole listed the FMCs as the Federal Medical Centres, Ebute Meta, Lagos; Federal Medical Centre, Keffi and the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe.

Others are – the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa; Federal Medical Centre, Birnin-Kebbi and Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.

Adewole, in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Relations in the ministry, Mrs. Boade Akinola, urged health partners to support the government’s efforts in tackling the menace of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The minister expressed his appreciation to the partners, who were working with the Ministry of Health on diabetes care and prevention.

He urged more partners to come on board to join the government in the fight against diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in the country.

“I wish to passionately appeal to all partners to support the ministry to conduct national survey so as to establish the current prevalence of NCDs for sound policy direction and planning in Nigeria,” Adewole said.

NAN