From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Founder of Sickle Cell Patients Health Promotion Centerville (SCPHPC) Kaduna Hajiya Badiya Magaji Inuwa
has called on the federal and state governments to rise to the challenge of ensuring proper sensitization about sickle cell disease among Nigerians
She asserted this while speaking to our Correspondent in Kaduna yesterday.
According to her, Sickle cell anaemia is a terminal disease so should be accorded the same importance like Malaria and HIV/AIDS.
She expressed dismay that the government at all levels are not given the required attentions.
Hajiya Badiya stressed the need for government to make Nigerians go for their genotype tests before marriage, as a way of reducing the disease in the country.
She noted that those suffering from sickle cell disease needs to be shown love and care as a way of encouraging them to fight the disease.
Hajiya Badiya also called for support for parents and relatives of those living with sickle cell disease, stressing that majority of them pass through great challenges while taking care of their family suffering from the disease.
She explained that SCPHPC has gone into collaboration with those living with sickle cell to create more awareness of what those living with the disease pass through and the need for all to come together to support and help them where necessary.
She urged the National Assembly to have a legislative law that would give special attention to sickle cell patients and provide affordable treatment for them, saying many were facing stigmatization in society.
