—- As commission, SCAIIN, takes campaign to ondo

By Dayo Johnson Akure

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has promised to promote public health and drive wider awareness to combat the growing burden of sickle cell disease in the  region.

 Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the commission, gave the promise at an outreach organised in collaboration with the Ebiere Women Foundation, Sickle Cell Awareness Initiative Ireland–Nigeria (SCAIIN), and the Beyond Sickle Cell Foundation, held at the State Specialist Hospital,  Akure, the Ondo state capital.

He said that the commission  extended its landmark sickle cell awareness campaign to the state as part of renewed efforts to tackle the prevalence of the disease across the Niger Delta region.

According to him the campaign first launched in Port Harcourt earlier this year, aimed “to promote public health and drive wider awareness to combat the growing burden of sickle cell disease in the region.

Ogbuku, who was represented by the Ondo State Director of the Commission, Ene Karaki Benson, noted that NDDC’s interventions go beyond infrastructure to include the health and wellbeing of Niger Delta residents.

According to him “NDDC is involved in numerous intervention projects. Recently, here in Ondo, we commissioned a major power project in the South Senatorial District that had been in darkness for over 50 years, bringing joy to people in the six local government areas there.

“Our ‘Operation Light Up the Niger Delta’ with solar-powered streetlights is ongoing, and our scholarship programmes, both local and foreign, have helped people pursue and achieve their dreams. So this sickle cell campaign is another major intervention.

” It is important that organisations and society show compassion to sickle cell patients, and that is the support the NDDC is bringing.”

In her remarks, Esther Pepple Onolememen, Convener and Founder of SCAIIN, said the initiative was created to bridge gaps in sickle cell management and care.

Onolememen, a clinical psychotherapist, emphasized the need to eliminate stigma and support patients emotionally and medically.

“Today we are here because of the need to support you. I know it is not easy. As a parent with children with sickle cell, I know the journey is difficult.

” I want to encourage you not to give up. If I had given up two years ago when I lost my daughter, I wouldn’t be here today.

According to him ” this initiative began about 25 years ago when my daughter was first diagnosed. We did everything possible—even traveling abroad—but sadly we lost her.

” I decided to step up advocacy. We started in Ireland and brought it to the Niger Delta. We appreciate the NDDC for supporting us, and we hope this will not be a one-off.”

The Deputy Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Alonge Taiwo, lauded the NDDC and its partners for the initiative, describing it as “timely and impactful.”

Mother of one of the young patient, Mrs. Akindade Abiola, expressed gratitude to the NDDC and the partnering NGOs for bringing hope to her four-year-old child and others living with the condition.