Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has called on the good people of Nigeria to be part of the fight against Sickle Cell  Disease in the country.

SCHAF made the appeal on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in a press briefing at Ibadan Civic Centre to commemorate the 2022 World Sickle Cell  Day and the 10th year anniversary of the organization.

The press conference which was held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Ibadan, Oyo state had different groups, organisations, governments, societies and private individuals in attendance to kick off the 10 years anniversary of positive feats and achievements of SCHAF in empowering and giving hope to sickle cell warriors.

.The founder of Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF), Prof Adeyinka Falusi, remarked that community participation in united efforts, struggles and hard works to renew the collective war against Sick Cell  and to outlaw and abolish Sickle Cell Anaemia in our human society is a key factor in bringing awareness to the reduction of the burden of Sickle Cell  Disease in Nigeria.

The Professor of Haematology and human genetics urged that in the fight against Sick Cell Disease, all hands must be on deck in communities to promote a health-conscious environment.

Adeyinka said , “Nigeria bears the highest burden of Sickle Cell Disease in the world with over 4 million sufferers, receiving treatment, and over 40 million trait carriers capable of spreading this disorder. of the 300,000 babies born with Sick Cell  Disease in Africa annually, 150,000 with Sick Cell  Disease are born in Nigeria with 100,000 dying annually.”

Reminiscing on the research, Prof. Falusi stated that the work started about five years ago when a team of scientists visited a community to carry out a study on the prevalence of hepatitis and HIV in sickle cell disease patients with the goal to bring to the society the progress of their findings. The drive of the research is the fact that sickle cell patients customarily undergo series of blood transfusion to keep them alive and healthy. So, the study was geared ultimately to find out if during such transfusions, the sickle cell patients are at higher risk of contracting transfusion transmittable diseases such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. In 2018, the study started with 1,017 people living with and without sickle cell anaemia in seven different health facilities visited; including University College Hospital, Ibadan, Jaja clinic at the University of Ibadan, etc.

The conclusion and recommendation of the research is that the rate of HIV in the study is similar to the report of recent national HIV survey in Oyo state; and the rate of HIV, HBV and HCV among SCD patients indicates an improvement in the transfusion safety measures in this region.

The members of the research team include distinguished professors and erudite scholars from diverse fields of medicine: the principal investigator of the study is a professor of Neonatology, Prof. Fadosi; the chairman of the conference, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola; the Vice Chancellor Christland University; Associate Prof. Fasola; Associate Prof. Akpan Oloja Akpan as well as other erudite scholars at the conference of academics and researchers.

The role of the community, therefore, in promoting a health-conscious environment cannot be over-emphasized. The community has a huge part to play in taking the message of Sickle Cell Disease to the family unit, and this will increase the awareness, foster prevention and help reduce the burden on the existing sufferers.”

Speaking further, Prof Adeyinka Falusi listed out the various ways that the general public can help to reduce the sickness to its barest minimal which include: “preaching about Sick Cell  Disease to the youths always to enable the youths make informed decisions on future partners to reduce Sick Cell  Disease incidence in their families; youth clubs known as Know Your Gynotype should be set up in schools and other places as an enlightenment campaign; and members of the society should support and facilitate resources to help NGO to take on their responsibilities activities" She said.

As part of the programs and activities slated for the commemoration of the Sickle Cell Anaemia Day, SCHAF had outreach which include; giving free treatments to patients, conducting a free genotype test and raising awareness amongst market women and religious centers, which are the target audience of the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Chinedum Babalola reiterated on the tripod formula - awareness, care and research as strong cardinal points to help roll back the menace of Sickle Cell  Disease. The Professor of Pharmacy noted that “Research groups usually carry out their research and publish only without involving the media for the dissemination of their findings. It is very rare. This is a very commendable activity that SCHAF has carried out research and disseminate their findings.”

The AU laureate also added that part of the follow up to the research is that the patients need to be identified, they need care, they need drugs and they need to be managed.