The Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation has marked this year’s World Sickle Cell Day (SCD) in grand style in conjunction with the Adeseun Ogundoyin Family. The collaboration was in memory of Late Chief Adeseun Ayisa Adedoyin who was a carrier of the disease.

It was a grand event held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall University College Hospital on Wednesday 19th June 2024.

Speaking during the technical session of the event titled “Bridging the Existing Gaps in Sickle Cell Disease, the Founder of SCHAF, Prof. Adeyinka Falusi called on Nigerians to champion the cause of awareness of SCD, stating that Nigeria carries about 50% population of SCD in Africa and ranks as the country with the highest population of people living with the disease.

Falusi, a Professor of Hematology at University of Ibadan, also called on the government to support the campaign against sickle cell in the country by making sure screening and diagnosis are accurate through the Point of Care Testing which should be made available in all health facilities across the country.

Calling for awareness and enlightenment in schools across the country to totally eradicate the disease through adequate knowledge, she asked the government to give health insurance to patients and partner with pharmaceuticals to make medication affordable to patients. This will also aid the efforts of SCHAF in their ‘Catch them Young’ initiative.

The Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly who is a son to the Icon celebrated, Rt Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, commended the effort of SCHAF and promised the family’s continuous support to SCD patients. The Adeseun Ogundoyin Family donated the sum of 5 million naira to SCHAF for the empowerment of the SCD patients present at the event and drug supplements to be taken for 3 months.

In their goodwill messages, the Leader of the 10th Oyo State House of Assembly Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin; Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adewumi Ajetunmobi; Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun; the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA), Dr. Sola Akande, among others, promised to support SCHAF and SCD patients in their various capacities.

Present at the grand occasion is, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State who is also the Chairman of the event, Engr. Adebayo Lawal, commissioners, religious leaders, traditional leaders, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Medical Practitioners, SCD patients, students from various schools across Oyo State, media practitioners and a host of others.

Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) is a Non-Governmental Organization saddled with the responsibility of creating awareness about Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria.

Founded in 2012, the organisation has celebrated the World Sickle Cell Day yearly every June 19 through creation of awareness, care for the SCD patients, advocacy and support for the patients. The foundation has also empowered patients and their parents through the ‘Mother of Warriors in Action’ initiative which it holds every September.