Sickle Cell Foundation Seeks Public Support

The Sickle Cell Foundation
Nigeria (SCFN), and Sickle Cell Club, Lagos, have called for public support to help improve the lives of people with Sickle Cell Disorders (SCD).
President, Sickle Cell Club, Mrs Ayo Otaigbe made this plea at the end of year celebration of the club held at the National Sickle Cell Centre, Lagos.
Otaigbe said that more research was also required to aid in the management of the disorder.
She stated that it is a documented fact that over 150,000 children are born every year in Nigeria with symptomatic sickle cell anemia with one in every four Nigerian as a carrier of the sickle cell gene.
“Many of these children die at infancy due to lack of information and appropriate care. Over the years, advances have been made to unravel the complex nature of SCD.
“However, the disorder is not well understood as expected and it is certainly not amenable to various drugs of unproven efficacy optimistically marketed in Nigeria.
“Therefore, more research is needed in various fronts, especially on the immediate cause of severe pain crises, so that rational therapy and not simply analgesics can be applied’’, she said.
According to her, the objective will be to effectively abort or prevent their occurrence.
Otaigbe said although SCD was not confined to Africa, over 80 per cent of affected children were born on the continent, yet Africa had shown apathy in addressing the major public health problem.
She enjoined Nigerians to make a difference and contribute to promote funding that will make meaningful research into SCD in Africa a reality.
The SCFN president said that the club had through its activities continued to increase public awareness and knowledge of the disorder especially through the establishment of sickle cell clubs, partnering with the SCFN and other stakeholders.
According to her, the focus for 2016 will be to consolidate on the successes recorded in 2015 and increase the level of awareness.
On his part, Prof. Olu Akinyaju, Chairman, SCFN, reiterated the need for Nigerians to support people with SCD as well as the establishment of at least one sickle cell centre in each state of the federation.
He said, “People should support persons with SCD; they should also support the centre and the clubs; there is a lot to be done in the area of SCD.
“We do not get enough donations, research has to be done, and workers need to be paid, people with SCD need tests, counselling and medication.
“We have a programme where we encourage everyone to give N5,000 monthly to the centre, it will mean a lot.
“In 2016, we will do more capacity building, it is very important and it will involve periodic counselling, training for personnel, doctors and nurses for emergency situations’’.
Akinyaju advised people with SCD to always keep warm, stay away from dust, sleep under mosquito nets, take medication and drink a lot of water during harmattan.
Mr Olasukanmi Rotimi, SCD person from the Apapa Sickle Cell Area Club, Lagos, said that people with SCD need a lot of care and attention.
He urged the public to always lend a comforting and helping hand to anyone who had the disorder.
Rotimi said that with adequate care, strict adherence to medication and appropriate lifestyle, people with SCD could also accomplish feats just like those who do not have the disorder.
Another SCD patient, Awaji Nsan Derick who described the attitude of most Nigerians towards SCD persons maintained that they are just like every other person and demand equal treatment.
Speaking to The Tide in Port Harcourt, she said “especially when you are a lady the guys act as if you are a less woman even to the extent of breaking our hearts emotionally and otherwise”, Derick further stressed the need for the establishment of the State centres to help later for their emergencies.