As parts of its efforts in alleviating the suffering and challenges of the sickle cell patients in Nigeria, a non-governmental organization, Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) has provided drugs and other relief materials to sickle cell patients in Oyo state.
The organization during its 2014 end of the year awareness Program that took place at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Wednesday also urged members of the public, government and private organizations to assist the sickle cell patients.
Speaking with journalists, the Founder and President of SCHAF, Professor Adeyinka Falusi advocated for early detection of the disease nothing that all hands must be on the deck to discover genotype of every child.
Falusi said though she does not have sickle cell child but her 35 years in service and sufferings of the patients pushed her to established the foundation which she said it has over the years create awareness about the disease and supported patients in many ways.
She also noted that government needs to pomp more money to support the sickle cell research, do more in creating awareness, reaching out to patients and devote more time in alleviating the suffering of the patients.
On the challenges facing the patients, Falusi noted that the best way to assist the patients is to employ the patients, provision of vocational trainings so as to make them relevant and economical in the society.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, who is also the managing director of Reals Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Ade Popoola represented by Mr. Kunle Adessoye said that it is important for members of the public to know their genotype as a way to prevent the disease.
He note that having the disease is not a death certificate, saying proper management is the panacea to survival.
Popoola said proper awareness and knowledge is the best way to eradicate the disease across the country.
Highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of drugs and other relief materials to the patients.
