Sickle Cell: Sanwo-Olu’s wife seeks support for patients

On Oct 13, 2024

The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has called for collaborative support of stakeholders in ensuring that those who live with sickle cell lived a normal life.

Sanwo-Olu made the call at the Grand Finale of Project Empower a Warrior 3.0, organised by a non-profit organisation Crimson Bow Sickle Cell Initiative, where more than 250 patients were empowered with skills and grants.

The event, titled, “Health and Wealth: Balancing Entrepreneurship in Sickle Cell”, was part of the initiative’s efforts at helping sickle cell patients navigate current economic challenges.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Toyin Suarau, Wife of a former Lagos lawmaker, commended the NGO’s commitment toward empowering sickle cell patients and alleviating economic challenges they faced through financial grants, mentorship, and medications.

“It is expedient to note that Sickle Cell Anaemia individuals need the needed support to thrive and live a fulfilling life.

“Many homes and marriages have been affected by this disease and all hands must be on deck to assist these families and further enlighten the society on preventive measures.

“It is the responsibility of the government, civil societies, NGOs, individuals and health sector actors, among others, to be supportive and collaborate in ensuring that those who live with sickle cell live a normal life,” Sanwo-Olu said.

She described the theme of the empowerment as apt, timely and laudable in view of the prevailing economic situation.

According to her, the project will go a long way to make life easier for sickle cell patients, provide business opportunities for them and ultimately bring succor to their families.

Sanwo-Olu said that the initiative perfectly aligned with the THEMES PLUS developmental agenda of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in providing mental, medical, and economic support services for individuals living with sickle cell.

She called on all critical stakeholders to play up and scale up advocacy to ensure that the larger percentage of the people were adequately armed with the required information.

Also speaking, Mrs Feyisayo Alayande, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), assured the patients that the agency had a lot of employability programmes to make people, including those with sickle cell contribute to society.

“At the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, we understand the unique challenges faced by those with sickle cell disease, particularly in balancing their health with entrepreneurial pursuits.

“We believe that everyone, regardless of their health condition, deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams and contribute to society,” Alayande said.

In his goodwill message, the Lagos State, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that sickle cell disorder affected significant number of people in Nigeria, noting that the state government had provided huge support for patients.

Abayomi, who was represented by Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services, said, “We have over a thousand units of blood giving out to sickle cell patients during their crisis moment.”

Speaking, Miss Timi Edwin, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Crimson Bow, said that the organisation focused on creating support for every sickle cell individual to create a world for them where they lived life in all its fullness.

Edwin, who is also a sickle cell patient, said the goal of the empowerment was to inspire hope and contribute to the improved health and well-being of sickle cell people in the current socio-economic challenges.

According to her, a minimum of 250 patients are empowered with different entrepreneurship skills during this programme, including Photography, Graphic design, Catering, Soap, Disinfectant, Perfume and Bleach making and Make-up.

“Aside financial empowerment, the winner of the Business Pitch Competitions was awarded N500,000, the first runner-up got 250,000 while the second runner-up collected N150,000,” the founder said.

Urging the government to get the nation’s health system right especially primary healthcare, Edwin said there was the need for more awareness, resources, infrastructure and opportunities for sickle cell patients.

Mr Wole Adel0ye, a Crimson Bow Patron and father of a 40-year-old patient, advocated newborn test for every child, funding for medications and researches on sickle cell disorder.

Describing sickle cell as not a death sentence, a patient, Mr Oluwagbohunmi Dada said that Government must give attention in form of research to develop drugs to ease the crisis faced by patients.

The panelists, who are all sickle cell patients in different fields, stressed the need for hardwork, determination, resilience, and health priority, because of down times for sickle cell patients.

NAN/Wumi