Yobe gov’t commemorates Sickle Cell Disease Day to boost awareness
Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
In furtherance of its sickle cell disease awareness campaign in the state, Yobe State Ministry of Health and Human Services under the Saving One Million Lives Programme for Results (SOML-PforR) in collaboration with Sickle Cell Disease Eradication Initiatives (SCDEI), a Community-Based and non-profit organisation, on Sunday, 19th June, 2022 joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2022 World Sickle Cell Disease Day.
The event which took place at the Conference Hall of National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Secretariat in Damaturu the state capital was attended by key stakeholders in the Yobe health sector and other sectors.
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The world sickle cell day is a day set aside by the United Nations with support from partners to raise awareness on sickle cell disease. Also, the world sickle cell day which is an annual event is usually commemorated on every 19th of June across the world in commemoration with people affected by Sickle Cell Disease.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Sickle Cell Disease Eradication Initiative in Yobe state, Dr Aliyu Usman Muhammad, said, “We are here to commemorate the day and to create more awareness on the sickle cell disease.
“The day is aimed at creating more awareness and drawing the attention of the government, donor agencies, development partners, politicians, philanthropists, and others to provide support to people living with the sickle cell disease.”
Dr Aliyu Usman further stated that the initiative has wide coverage across the state and has been able to engage with key stakeholders in the state as part of its efforts to get support and as well as look for possible collaboration.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Initiative, a blood bank laboratory has been established in the state by the initiative.
“He also said that plans were underway to establish a research study centre in Damaturu by the Sickle Cell Disease Eradication Initiative.
While delivering his opening remark, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Yobe state, Dr Muhammad Lawan Gana, represented by the Director, Nursing Services of the Ministry of Health, Ali Abdullahi Danchua commended the Sickle Cell Disease Eradication Initiative for their good efforts in creating awareness on sickle cell disease and for collaborating with the State Ministry of Health in the fight against the sickle cell disease.
He further said that the Yobe State Ministry of Health under the Saving One Million Lives Programme For Results is fully committed and determined to support the initiative at all times for the interest of sickle cell disease patients in the state.
The health Commissioner further said that Yobe state government under the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni would continue to initiate health programmes and implement them in line with the health policy agenda of the administration in the state.
In his brief remark, the Chairman, House Standing Committee on Health, Yobe State House of Assembly, who is also the special guest of honour at the event, Honourable Kachalla Ajiya Maina, commended the organisers for the life saving initiative.
Maina said, “We need to sustain the support the State Ministry of Health and development Partners are providing to the sickle cell disease eradication initiative.”
He further said that the Yobe State House of Assembly is always ready to support all healthcare initiatives.
“Our doors are always open for initiating healthcare bills as well as amending laws where and when necessary.”
The chairman house committee on health commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for providing the necessary support to move the health sector forward.
Highlights of the event were a presentation on the burden of sickle cell disease in Yobe state by the Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, Yobe State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr Umar Ciroma; a presentation on integrating sickle cell anemia into the Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) programme by the Director, Programmes of the agency, Suleiman Dauda; and sharing of knowledge and experience by parents, caregivers and survivors of sickle cell disease with other participants on the challenges and way forward of raising a sickle cell disease child and managing life as a sickle cell warrior.
The sickle cell survivors, caregivers and parents of children living with the disease at the event called on the government, politicians, development partners, donor agencies, philanthropists and other well meaning individuals to show love and provide them with the necessary support and cooperation.
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