The Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) marked this year’s World Sickle Cell Day (SCD) in grand style in partnership with the Late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin Family. The collaboration was in memory of Late Chief Adeseun Ayisa Ogundoyin who was a person living with Sickle Cell Disease. It was a grand event held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan 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% of SCD in Africa and ranks as the country with the highest population of people living with the disease.

Falusi, a retired Professor of Hematology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, also called on the government to support the campaign against sickle cell disease in the country. She opined that screening and diagnosis should be made more accurate through the use of the Point of Care Testing (PoCT) which should be made available in all health facilities across the country.

She called for awareness and enlightenment in schools through the Know Your Genotype (KYG) Clubs expected to “Catch Them Young” initiative in Oyo State to be spread eventually across the country. This is expected to reduce the disease burden through adequate knowledge. She requested the government to make health insurance available to patients and also to partner with pharmaceuticals to make medication affordable to patients. These will aid the efforts of SCHAF in a bid to reduce the burden of SCD in Nigeria.

The Speaker of the 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 PLWSCD. Each of those present at the event were given a 3-month medicine package.

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 Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade; Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun; The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adelabu Saliu Abdulwaheed ably represented; 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 were, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State who is also the Chairman of the event, Barr. Bayo Lawal, commissioners, religious leaders, traditional leaders, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Medical Practitioners, PLWSCD, 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 whose vision is to reduce the burden of SCD in Nigeria, through her 4-pronged approach of Awareness, Care, Research & Advocacy.

Founded in 2012, the organisation has celebrated the World Sickle Cell Day annually every June 19 through creation of awareness, care for the SCD patients, advocacy for support of patients. The foundation has also empowered patients and their caregivers through the ‘Mothers of Warriors in Action’ (MoWA) initiative which started in September 2023.

SCHAF marks 2024 World Sickle Cell Day with medical outreach, as dignitaries make donations for patients.

The Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) marked this year’s World Sickle Cell Day (SCD) in grand style in partnership with the Late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin Family. The collaboration was in memory of Late Chief Adeseun Ayisa Ogundoyin who was a person living with Sickle Cell Disease. It was a grand event held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan 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% of SCD in Africa and ranks as the country with the highest population of people living with the disease.

Falusi, a retired Professor of Hematology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, also called on the government to support the campaign against sickle cell disease in the country. She opined that screening and diagnosis should be made more accurate through the use of the Point of Care Testing (PoCT) which should be made available in all health facilities across the country.

She called for awareness and enlightenment in schools through the Know Your Genotype (KYG) Clubs expected to “Catch Them Young” initiative in Oyo State to be spread eventually across the country. This is expected to reduce the disease burden through adequate knowledge. She requested the government to make health insurance available to patients and also to partner with pharmaceuticals to make medication affordable to patients. These will aid the efforts of SCHAF in a bid to reduce the burden of SCD in Nigeria.

The Speaker of the 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 PLWSCD. Each of those present at the event were given a 3-month medicine package.

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 Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade; Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun; The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Adelabu Saliu Abdulwaheed ably represented; 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 were, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State who is also the Chairman of the event, Barr. Bayo Lawal, commissioners, religious leaders, traditional leaders, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Medical Practitioners, PLWSCD, 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 whose vision is to reduce the burden of SCD in Nigeria, through her 4-pronged approach of Awareness, Care, Research & Advocacy.

Founded in 2012, the organisation has celebrated the World Sickle Cell Day annually every June 19 through creation of awareness, care for the SCD patients, advocacy for support of patients. The foundation has also empowered patients and their caregivers through the ‘Mothers of Warriors in Action’ (MoWA) initiative which started in September 2023.