posted 1st April 2024
Professor Baba Inusa was the Chair of the National Haemoglobinopathy Panel (NHP) from its commissioning in 2019 and becoming operational in 2020, until March 2024 when he left the United Kingdom to take up a role in Denmark.
Professor of Paediatric Haematology, King's College London and lead clinician at the Paediatric Sickle Cell service of Evelina Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, Professor Inusa's experience in Sickle Cell Disorder, Thalassaemia and Rare Inherited Anaemias (RIA) is extensive and has positively impacted the Haemoglobinopathy landscape nationally and internationally. Of note, amongst many other valuable efforts and accomplishments, are his enduring clinical practice, his overseeing of national and international research projects, founding of the internationally renowned Academy for Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia (ASCAT) with its annual conference for healthcare practitioners, patients and all other stakeholders, and leading on the African Research and Innovation Initiative for Sickle Cell Education (ARISE). He is the Associate Editor of Journal of Sickle Cell Disease and a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) expert group on centre of excellence for Sickle Cell Disease in Africa. He has co-authored over 130 papers and edited 2 books on Sickle Cell Disease.
While NHP Chair, Prof Inusa dedicated not only his clinical and professional expertise, but also personal resources and time to build up the NHP and its network, which is the bedrock of its success and efficacy to date. He had the drive, skill and goodwill to galvanise colleagues and foster engagement and familiarity amongst members, shaping these into a well-connected, functioning, relevant and value-giving network, with a vision that exceeded the written mandate mainly to provide expert advice for patient treatment, drive equity, harmonisation and efficiency in services and processes nationally, and facilitating the introduction of new and novel therapies, while also advocating for and effecting improvement in policies and practices for patients.
During the MDTs, which are a major function of the NHP, Professor Inusa ensured detail and reasoning for actions was sound and robust, and that knowledge and experience of members was optimised, for deep learning and evidence-based decision-making. His vision included extending the learning from MDTs, and data from these meetings, to other educational platforms, as well as being an aid to informing on the progress and gaps that form the haemoglobinopathy landscape. While tackling issues of national import or collaborating with a network partner, Prof Inusa was always able to keep in perspective, and firmly steer the course, to maintain the network's key objectives, for the benefit of the patient and community's best interests, and above any self-interest or deviations.
Wonderfully underpinning all this is Prof Inusa's capacity for empathy and understanding, to drawing out the best in people to aid their development, including personal and professional goals that were in service of NHP/Haematology/haemoglobinopathy interests. His patients have nothing but confidence in, and warm admiration for, him. His colleagues and friends, of which latter he manages to collect almost everywhere he went, had utmost respect and fondness for him.
Professor Inusa will be genuinely missed in the NHP team, network and his wider NHS associations. However, his great efforts and vision have been and will continue to be of benefit to many in the haemoglobinopathy community, with immense appreciation.
We wish you all the very best in your next vetntures, Prof Inusa.
