ABSTRACT
Sickle cell disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive disease. It is a disease that not only impacts the patient but also has effects on the nuclear and extended family. It is the commonest inherited disease in Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 5% of the world's population has the trait. The disease being an inherited condition means that persons/patients will have it throughout their lifetime. With improvements in care in high-, middle- and low-income countries, more people are surviving into adulthood due to interventions like vaccinations, and the use of prophylactic medications, etc. This means that a patient has to transition through different groups of doctors as they grow. The most important transition is from paediatric to adult clinic. The transfer programme is meant to prepare, transfer and integrate emerging adults into the adult care setting. The main aim is to reduce care abandonment which is common among those between the ages of 15 and 25 years. The transition programme for those with sickle cell disease incorporates elements of healthcare transition as developed by the centre for healthcare transition improvement. These are discussed in detail in the chapter. The goals and problems associated with the transition programme are listed below:
