Kwara gov's wife urges research for treatment of sickle cell
Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, the wife of Kwara governor and Founder, Ajike People Support Centre, has called for world class healthcare and intensive research for better treatment of sickle cell disease.
Mrs AbdulRazaq made the appeal at a programme to commemorate the 2022 sickle cell awareness in Ilorin on Thursday.
She said the awareness month was a time to acknowledge the challenges faced by people living with the disease.
She assured that her office and the Ajike People Support Centre was commitment to continued partnerships with organisations and multi-nationals in supporting people living with sickle cell disease.
She commended the effort of all government and non-governmental organisations championing the advocacy.
The governor's wife reiterated commitment to increasing advocacies that would ensure that they are able to access quality and affordable treatment, support and care.
"An estimated 150,000 babies born annually with sickle cell anaemia in the country, Nigeria accounts for almost half of the share of more than 300,000 babies with severe haemoglobin disorders born globally each year.
"In many cases sickle cell disease cannot be cured, so lifelong treatment and monitoring are needed.
"While research and innovation have led to medical advances that provide a wide array of treatments for improving the prognosis of children living with sickle cell disease, many can be used only for a specific subset of patients.
"Far too many patients who could benefit from treatments such as stem cell or bone marrow transplants are not identified until they have already experienced a debilitating medical episode that causes irreversible organ damage; incidentally most of these treatment options are not accessible to most sickle cell warriors.
"It is in this regard that my office and the Ajike People Support Centre have adopted sensitisation and awareness of our people towards ensuring that they are equipped with knowledge about the disease and its management, while sustaining a continued campaign for genotype testing.
"This year has seen us amplify our awareness on the disease and increase significantly our support for sickle cell warriors through the procurement of additional 100 units of health insurance cover during the 2022 sickle cell day in June in addition to the ones procured in 2021 to support the care of people living with sickle cell diseases," she said.
Mrs AbdulRazaq appreciated the efforts of the Kwara government for its favourable disposition to the support and care of people living with the disease.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Ayodele Ojuawo, said religious leaders have important roles to play in tackling sickle cell disease.
Ojuawo called for more sensitisation by religious leaders, adding that this will increase the awareness, foster prevention and help reduce the burden on the existing victims.
He implored parents to always give proper attention, good nutrition to their children, and ensure the qualified medical personnel attended to their sick children.
In her address, Sickle Cell Warrior and Founder, Pearls Sickle Cell Foundation, Mrs Titilayo Bamidele, said Nigeria accounted for higher number of sickle cell disease in the world owing to ignorance and over spirituality.
She advised warriors to keep their hopes and dreams alive, calling on the public to desist from stigmatising sickle cell disease carriers.
One of the participants, Mrs Aderonke Adeniran, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the programme was enlightening, adding that she will begin advocacy and awareness in her community.
"I felt bad listening to one of the sickle cell warriors story. Indeed the disease can be avoided.
"In my own little way, in my community, in my place of worship I will tell them everything I learnt here today.
"I really appreciate the governor's wife for putting this programme together, may God bless her,",she said.
