Sickle Cell: Initiative bankrolls free medical tests, drugs for 700 school children
The CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, a faith-based non-governmental organisation creating support for sickle cell patients, on Saturday backrolled free medical tests and screening for about 700 school children in Agege Local Government.
Miss Timi Edwin, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, disclosed this at the “Project Keep A Warrior Warm 9.0” organised by the initiative in Agege and environs as part of efforts to address the challenges of sickle cell in the society.
“This is a medical outreach and Christmas party for the children in Agege Local Government.
“This is our 23rd local government areas that we are coming to. We are here today to make this children have a lot of fun while also using the medium to teach them on the importance of knowing their genotype.
“We are here to also letting the children know how to take care of themselves, especially those who are sickle cell.while also inviting them to our programmes.
“For the medical tests today, no fewer than 700 children benefitted in our free genotype, eye and dental tests while patients also got free drugs,” the founder said.
According to her, the initiative has been taking such advocacy from one local government to another in Lagos State and other neighbouring states to stem the spread of sickle cell diseases.
Edwin added that the participants were also given food items, clothes, beverages, toilets and other palliatives as well as medications for patients.
“We run clinic every months were we provide medication to sickle cell patients. Here today, many patients were also provided with their medications,” she said.
She said that the Primary Health Board also collaborated with the initiative in bringing Polio and COVID-19 vaccines as support to the programme.
Edwin, who stressed the need for the Federal Government to implement newborn genotype screening policy and ensure adequate funding and research to mitigate spread of sickle cell, said that the initiative invited school children to the party in order to reach out to them.
The founder, who commended all the sponsors called on the government, corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to support the fight against sickle cell.
According to her, a lot of patients have died while many are still dying because of wrong or error in diagnosis of genotype, hence the need for government to be stricter in regulating spread of sickle cell.
“There is a lot more to do to stop bringing into the world children with sickle cell to mitigate pains and agonies of patients. Sickle cell is our plague, we need to cure it,” she added.
Also speaking, Mrs Christiana Bakare, the Project Director, who noted that more children benefitted than were they planned for, said that the event was part of the catch the. young efforts of the initiative.
She urged parents not to hide their sickle cell children as the disease was not a death sentence.
In his welcome address, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the Wife of the Lagos State Governor, said that she identified with the project meant “to educate people on Sickle Cell prevention and management in lower cadres of society.”
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Abimbola Odunmbaku, the Wife of the Chairman, Ojodu LCDA described the gesture as laudable.
She said: “It is commendable that this sort of project was initiated, while it is more gratifying that it has been sustained from the 1st phase to the 9th phase that we are all gathered to celebrate today.
“I am particularly thrilled with the free genotype tests, eye tests, dental check-ups, and other blood tests for women and children as part of efforts to ensure that residents are supported to be healthy and armed with the required knowledge to embrace healthier life choices.
Sanwo-Olu recalled that earlier in 2022, the CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative organised also roundtable advocacy meeting aimed at changing individual behaviors, societal norms, and policies regarding sickle cell prevention.
“Without any iota of doubt, this project will help a great deal to reduce the number of people affected by the disease in the future.
“To ward off the threat of the disease, I have always emphasized the need for awareness. As a matter of fact, awareness is key in helping to nip it in the bud.
“Therefore, all critical stakeholders must continue to play up and scale up advocacy to ensure that the larger percentage of the people is adequately armed with the required information to prevent it,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu said that the Lagos State Government was committed to ramping up all branches of healthcare delivery including sickle cell diseases in line with the THEMES Agenda of the administration of Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Adenike Adefowora, who came to receive medication for her six year old sickle cell daughter, Daniella, applauded the the CrimsonBow Initiative for being there for patients.
Master Fawaz Yakubu, a 17-year old SSS2 student, who benefited from free genotype test, also commended the initiative for providing the avenue for such test.
The party gathered a lot of students and parents who were thrilled and danced to music.
