By Stanley Onyekwere
Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have taken sickle cell anaemia and HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to two schools in Karu and Jikwoyi, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Speaking at the sensitisation campaign organised for students of Government Secondary School (GSS) Karu and Junior Secondary School (JSS), Jikwoyi respectively, a Deputy Director in the Health and Environment Secretariat, FCTA,Ms Nkechi Ezeudu, the move was to catch the students young and equip them with life-saving information.
Ezeudu, a pharmacist, who led the campaign at GSS, Karu, disclosed that the objective was to empower the students with critical information on sickle cell and HIV/AIDS, to enable them to make informed decisions about their sexual life and choosing a life partner.
She added that the campaign was also organised to elicit a high level of awareness among the young generation, and build a formidable youth block that would be healthy, knowledgeable and patriotic.
She explained that it is in line with the FCTA’s efforts toward eradicating sickle cell diseases and HIV/AIDS, through sensitisation and awareness campaigns.
According to her: “We believe that a society where the youthful population is greatly aware of health and healthy imperatives, they will make the right decisions on issues of life.
“By doing so, the society is spared the agony of consequential negative situations due to wrong choices.
“I have the conviction that after the awareness programme, we will all become veritable agents and catalysts for change.”
In her remarks, the Senior Mistress, Administration in the school, Mrs. Oluwadare Iyabode, applauded the FCTA for the efforts towards curbing the incidence of sickle cell and HIV AIDS among school children.
Iyabode, who represented the school Principal, Mrs. Gladys Ehidiamen, said that availing the students with the right information, would assist them make informed decisions in life.
For a student, Abdulmumuni Jamilu, the sensitisation was quite informative, as he learned a lot about sickle cell and HIV/AIDS, particularly the preventive measures.
He said: “My genotype is AS and based on what I learned today, I am not supposed to marry someone with AS or SS genotype, or we might give birth to a child with sickle cell.”
Similarly, another students of the school, Cynthia Okechukwu, opined that it was the first time she heard something about sickle cell anaemia.
