By Adeyinka Adeniran
Clan of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, on Wednesday, donated the sum of N5 million to the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF) to attend to the needs of persons with sickle cell disease.
The donation was made at an event organised by SCHAF in conjunction with the Ogundoyin family to make the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day 2024 held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, Ibadan.
Handing the cheque to Founder, SCHAF, Professor Adeyinka Falusi, Speaker of the State Assembly, Honourable Ogundoyin enjoined the foundation to judiciously distribute the funds to sickle cell warriors for them to get consumables and needed medications.
Ogundoyin said his family would continue to advocate and support sickle cell carriers in honour of their father, the late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin who also lived with sickle cell till his death in 1991.
The Oyo Speaker urged sickle cell warriors not to sulk over having the disease but remain determined to achieving their dreams.
Noting the immense pain that sickle cell carriers grapple with, Ogundoyin charged all and sundry to step up advocacy, awareness campaigns and help end stigmatization against carriers.
The event also saw the distribution of drugs kits and sum of money to 500 sickle cell warriors.
Also, to keep the memory of the late Ogundoyin alive, the event saw the declaration that a book titled: “Passion Beyond Borders: The Untold Story of Adeseun Ogundoyin,” will be written within the next one year, to be authored by Oyo Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade.
Oyo deputy governor, Mr Bayo Lawal, who chaired the occasion, stressed that people should not allow their health condition define the heights they can attain in life.
Lawal described the late Ogundoyin as a dogged fighter, a successful businessman with links that cut across zones, and one who lived an impactful life.
Giving the keynote address, Professor Chinedum Babalola, who is Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University, decried that sickle cell warriors lacked access to funding, insurance from government.
She identified early detection, treatment, awareness as key in reducing the high trend of sickle cell disease among Nigerians.
Babalola also enjoined sickle cell patients to draw inspiration from stories of resilience, determination of many carriers who had attained great heights in various fields of endeavour.
In her presentation, founder, SCHAF, Professor Adeyinka Falusi said government must champion the cause of awareness, empowerment of warriors, health insurance funding and point of care testing.
Falusi said sickle cell patients needed succour as many of them had to grapple with multi organ issues, leg ulcer, jaundice apart from economic and social burden.
