By Chioma Okoye

In a heartwarming display of creativity and resilience, the Fit to Achieve Sickle Foundation X Eejiomah, Creative Director recently hosted an art workshop aimed at providing children and teenagers from underprivileged communities with a therapeutic outlet to express their emotions and find solace amidst the challenges of living with sickle cell disease.

The workshop, held in Abuja, Nigeria in a local arts centre, brought together young warriors battling sickle cell disorder, offering them a day of painting, drawing, and imaginative expression. For many of these children, art became a medium to transcend their daily struggles, allowing them to forget their pain and suffering, if only for a moment. The event underscored the foundation’s commitment to using creative therapies as tools for healing and empowerment.

“Art is not just a form of expression; it’s a pathway to healing,” said June Okochi, founder of the Fit to Achieve Sickle Foundation and a Global Arts in Medicine Fellow. “By providing these children and young people with the opportunity to create, we are offering them a chance to reclaim their joy and envision a future beyond their condition – underpinning the mission of the Foundation.

In a statement by Kunle Adewale, he said, I first encountered (Eejiomah) Ijeoma Okochi-Agwu during the National Arts in Health Week Festival in Nigeria in 2022, where she exhibited her powerful photography series Portraits of Pain, which poignantly explored the invisibility and universality of pain through the lens of sickle cell. Her creative direction and striking visual artistry stood out as a tool for advocacy and healing. It was no surprise, then, when she later joined the Global Arts in Medicine Fellowship Summer Cohort 5 in 2023.

Ijeoma is a passionate visual artist and creative director championing social change through art and fashion. Watching her continue to embody the spirit of creative activism that lies at the heart of our Fellowship including her role in using art to heal children has been nothing short of inspiring. We are immensely proud of her journey and the impact she is making through the arts.”

— Kunle Adewale, Founder of Global Arts in Medicine and a Mandela Washington Fellow, World Bank Youth Advisory Member, and Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health.

The initiative aligns with global research highlighting the benefits of art therapy for children with chronic conditions. Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can significantly reduce pain intensity and improve emotional well-being in young patients. In Nigeria, similar programs have demonstrated how art can serve as a powerful tool for coping and building resilience among sickle cell patients.

The Fit to Achieve Sickle Foundation’s art workshop not only provided therapeutic benefits but also fostered a sense of community and support among participants. By integrating art into their care programs, the foundation is paving the way for innovative approaches to managing sickle cell disease and improving the quality of life for affected children.

The children who accessed the program described their experience as fun, uplifting and something they will look forward to again. The foundation has noted they will continue to help the kids they serve to express, heal and dream. Beyond Sickle Cell!