The Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola has called on the government to provide free and subsidized care for Sickle Cell Disease patients in Nigeria.

She made this call during an interview with CEOAFRICA at the 2024 World Sickle Cell Day organized by the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation SCHAF in conjunction with the Adeseun Ogundoyin Family on Wednesday 19th June, 2024 at Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Prof. Babalola FAS, FAAS is a Nigerian Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacokinetics. She is a Professor of Pharmacy in the University of Ibadan, FAS, FAAS. Her researches have been focused on ethics of human research, pharmacogenetics, clinical trials, drug interaction PK/PD and non - communicable diseases (Sickle Cell and cancer). She is one of the scientists that reported the first pharmacogenetic study in healthy and Sickle Cell patients in Nigerians with proguanil as a probe. She has a lot of scholarly article and research reports on Sickle Cell Disease making her an authority in the field.

Speaking, Prof Babalola lamented on the neglect the Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients have experience from the government and urged the government to intervene in providing free, subsidized care for them. She said the screening and kits for the patients are at the higher side for the public and call on the government to assist the SCD patient in making them available and affordable in our health facilities across the country. She also advocated for free treatment and medication for patients especially children and empowerment for the parents especially mothers who have lost their jobs, homes and even sound health while taking care of their children.

In her message to the SCD patients, Prof Babalola encouraged them to be positive about their lives. She urged them not give up on themselves, instead they should brace up and become successful in whatever they lay their hands upon. She encouraged them to take care of themselves, use their medications and look up to those who have succeeded in lives despite their health challenges such as the Late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin.

Prof Babalola therefore call of the government, private entities and individuals to support the SCD patients and stop stigmatizing them. She calls for counselling of the public on the disease, more newsletters, involvement and publicity by the media to help eradicate the disease in Nigeria. She urged the government to provide Nation Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) support for the patient as it is made available for HIV/Aids patients. She mentioned that Nigeria ranks the country with the highest population of SCD case in the world with over 4 million patients and 40 million carriers. She said about 4 out of 100 children born in Nigeria are patients of SCD.

Speaking on 2024 World Sickle Cell Day celebration, Prof. Babalola commended the effort of the organizer of the programme, Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) for living out their mission. SCHAF, a Non- Governmental Organization was founded in 2012 to create awareness in educating the public about SCD, provide care, conduct collaborative research and develop partner network in intervening in the problem.

She appreciated the effort of the foundation in creating awareness and empowering SCD patients and their parents in their fight with the disease on a daily basis. She also commended the Adeseun Ogundoyin Family for rising to the challenge of supporting the SCD patients in memory of their late father.