AS the world celebrated the year 2023 World Sickle Cell Day, the Alimosho General Hospital joined its counterparts across the world to celebrate the year 2023 World Sickle Cell Day with an awareness campaign at the Igando Community High School.
The Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Ayodapo Soyinka, who was represented by the Director of Clinical Services and Training, Dr Jane Bakare, while addressing the students at the event on Monday, June 19, 2023, with the theme “Shine the Light on Sickle Cell Disease”, reiterated the essence of the annual event and the need to deepen students’ knowledge about the disease.
Dr Soyinka declared that the event aims to create proper awareness of Sickle Cell Disease, emphasising the ultimate need for early Genotype Testing, disease management, and support.
On her part, a Consultant and Head of the Haematology Department in the Hospital, Dr Adebukola Orolu, said that World Sickle Cell Day is designed to enlighten the general public about Sickle Cell Disease as a Public Health concern, adding that Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited chronic blood disorder which causes rigid red blood cells with abnormal sickle shape, decreases the red cell flexibility, and causes blockage of blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body, thereby causing various sickle cell disease complications.
She advocated Genotype Testing for intending couples and early testing in newborns, saying that 10-40% of the Nigerian population carries the sickle cell gene, with an estimated 150,000 children born every year with sickle cell anaemia.
The Haematologist informed that the theme for this year’s event recognises awareness of what the disease is, means of transmission, and ways of preventing the spread of the disease, just as she affirmed that early diagnosis of sickle cell disease in newborns and the importance of supportive caregivers and zero stigmatisation of sickle cells sufferers are important in tackling the disease.
Meanwhile, the Chief Matron in charge of the Hospital’s Sickle Cell Patients, Mrs Muibat Akinbobola, while educating the students on the care of Sickle Cell Patients commonly referred to as Warriors, underscored the importance of daily intake of adequate water, fruits and foods rich in protein, non-exposure to mosquito bites, and monitoring of blood level, among others.
Also, the Head of the Dietetics and Nutrition Department, Mrs Oludayo Sowoolu-Coates, reaffirmed the need for a healthy diet, portion control, and the essence of proper planning of meals as part of the management of Sickle Cell Disease.
The highlight of the event was an organised genotype screening, testimonies from Sickle Cell Warriors, games and gifts presentation to participating students.
