by By Elijah Ugani – Calabar
The wife of the Executive Governor of Cross River State Dr Linda Ayade has called on Sickle Cell warriors to always look on the grand side of life, see themselves as Angels sent down from heaven to proffer solutions to mankind.
Ayade was represented by the State Commissioner for Health Dr Betta Edu, made the call while declaring open the 2020 World sickel Cell day at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital UCTH, further to call on the legislative arm of Government to pass laws that will protect the rights of people living with sickle cells.
Ayade further called all stakeholders across the Country and the World to support people living with sickle cells disease as burden of care is usually heavy for most families .
“At a trying time like this where the entire World is going through unimaginable challenges and the difficulties of being confined due to COVID-19, the Economy is dwindling, Health Sector worse hit by pandemic and rate of Job loss rising, one can only but imagine what families with sickle carriers and the carriers themselves are going through. I feel your pain and will support in my own little way to see smiles on your faces”.
Her Excellency also promised that “the Cross River state Government will be putting up a Bill to the House of Assembly to ensure that you all have equal rights, opportunities and privileges just like every other person out there”
Dr Linda advocated that “all Sickle Cell patients be made automatic beneficiaries of the State Health Insurance Scheme also known as “Ayadecare” without charges and has gone further to donate a truck load of assorted palliatives in commemoration of this day.”
Dr Edu reiterated the willingness of the CRSG to always support persons living with sickle cells disease in all ramifications stating the dynamic and humane nature of Sen Prof Ben Ayade who doesn’t derive pleasure in seeing anyone suffer. She charged scientist to go into further research on ways to improve the living condition of Sickle Cell carriers, and pleaded with health workers to continue care on carriers as some symptoms of sickle cell disease could be easily mistaken for COVID 19.
Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that makes the red blood cells assume a sickle shape thereby leading to blocking of blood flow, destruction of blood cells and inability to get oxygen to all parts of the body leading to pains, anaemia, that is shortage of blood blood and infections among others.
Apart from medical challenges affecting the patients, they are also faced with socioeconomic concerns in areas like schooling, employment opportunities, relationships/marriages as well as high level of stigmatization.
The theme for this years commemoration is ‘Keeping Hope Alive in Civic-19 Outbreak’.
The United Nations declared June 19th every year to mark Sickle Cell day.
Present at the event were Prof Merimeku; chairman of event, Prof Ikpeme, CMD UCTH represented by Prof Ngim, Dr Enyiama, Dr Ihenacho HOD Hematology UCTH and others.
