19th, June is designated by the United Nations as World Sickle Cell Day & for a third consecutive year, Amana Sickle Cell Foundation celebrates the day with a list of activities that enhance awareness creation among the public & bring succor to the lives of sickle cell victims.
The theme of this year’s day is “Building & Strengthening Sickle Cell Communities, Formalizing New-Born Screening & Knowing Your Sickle Cell Disease Status ” which perfectly aligns with the activities of the foundation.
The town hall meeting was attended by government officials, traditional, religious & community leaders, sickle cell victims & members of the press & other relevant stakeholders.
The welcome remark at the event was delivered by the CEO of the foundation, Abdulqadir Gambo Musa, who spoke on behalf of the foundation & offer appreciation to the guests for honoring the invitation.
The state governor, His Excellency, Sen BalaAbdulkadir Muhammad CON (Kauran Bauchi, Jagaban Katagum ) who was heavily represented by the chairman of Gamawa Local Government, Hon.Nasiru Bakura Baraden Gamawa, informed the participants that the state governor is ever happy at the activities of the foundation which is geared toward eradicating sickle cell disease in our community. The Governor he said is willing at any time to support the foundation in any way he can to discharge its duties effectively. He also pledged the full implementation & enforcement of the law that advocates compulsory pre-marital genotype screening & other related diseases.
Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya from the Department of Pediatrics, FMC Azare, presented a lecture on the theme of this year’s sickle cell day. He acknowledged that Katagum is a Local Government Area that has quite a number of sickle cell patients which is alarming. He also stressed the need for pre-marital genotype screening as the best form of prevention of the disease & call for a collective effort to ensure concord & compliance.
The Emir of Katagum, heavily represented by Hakimin Sakuwa, Alh Mustapha Binnni Abdulqadir, commends the effort of the foundation & pledges full support of the Emirate in ensuring that the foundation thrives & carries its message of sickle cell disease awareness to the nooks & crannies of the Emirate.
The provost of the Aminu Saleh College of Education, Professor Asabe Sadiya Muhammad, who was also the chief host of the event appreciates the words of wisdom of the guests that spoke earlier at the event & used the Hausa adage ” Maganin Ayi Kar afara” loosely translated as “prevention is better than cure” to call the attention of the participants, especially the Youths who are yet unmarried to exercise caution & ensure they go for a pre-marital genotype screening at the earlier stage of their relationship. She also calls for support to sickle cell victims especially those from poor & vulnerable families as the financial burden is unbearable to them. Other guests at the event include Alhaji Hassan (Sarkin Yakin Galadiman Katagum), Alh Ibrahim from BACATMA, and Alhaji Usman Sule Katagum among others.
At the end of the event, nutritious food packages were distributed to sickle cell victims.
Amana Sickle Cell Foundation On Air, Sensitize On Sickle Cell Disease.
The radio program which lasted for over an hour is one among the several programs earmarked by the foundation to commemorate the world sickle cell day.
The CEO of the foundation, Abdulqadir Gambo Musa spoke about the significance of the radio program which covers the larger part of the population & sees it as a channel for reaching a huge number of people to create awareness of sickle cell disease. He stated the mandate of the foundation & its activities & that sensitization falls under the preventive aspect of the activities of the foundation.
Dr Maimuna O Yusuf, a consultant pediatrician with FMC Azare, shed light on the Sickle Cell Disease, the pain endured by the victims which are mostly children & the financial & psychological burden it has on families. She calls for collective action to tackle the menace in families & society at large.
Dr. Aliyu Muhammed Maigoro, consultant public health physician & a former commissioner of health called on parents to give their all in ensuring their children & wards know their status at an early stage & which can be done through genotype screening, as he also compares the severity of the disease to that of HIV/AIDS. He maintains that the best way to prevent such a deadly pain-inducing disease from society is through genotype screening & especially pre-marital genotype screening & ensuring that only partners whose genotype is compatible are allowed to get married. He also calls on parents to ensure that their children & wards who happened to be victims to sickle cell disease are given the necessary care to alleviate their pain & suffering as well as improve their overall health & well-being. He emphasized the need for compliance with follow-up visits.
Questions were asked & answers were given by the guest at the program.
Lastly, the foundation extends its gratitude to Bauchi Radio Corporation for granting airtime & all the necessary support that led to the successful conduct of the program.
Amana Sickle Cell Foundation meets Chairman Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/Aids tuberculosis, leprosy, and malaria (BACATMA), Agree To Intensify Awareness Creation On Sickle Cell Disease
At the instance of the chairman of the board of trustees of Amana Sickle Cell Foundation, Arc Audu Sule Katagum the CEO of Amana Sickle Cell Foundation Abdulqadir Gambo Musa, & the Executive chairman Of BACATMA, Dr sani Muhammad Dambam altogether held a meeting to discuss, deliberate & come out with effective ways to prevent the menace of sickle cell disease in the society. The Chairman of BACATMA acknowledged the efforts of the Amana Sickle Cell Foundation in carrying out sickle cell prevention campaigns in various locations across the state. He stated that what the foundation is doing aligns with the mandate of BACATMA agency & with the Sickle Cell Disease Act of the state government. He pledged to support the foundation so as to intensify awareness campaigns across the state & further reiterated the commitment of the Bauchi State government and the Agency at ensuring full compliance with the law.
The meeting ended in a high note as all participants were optimistic & unanimously agreed that this is indeed a massive step toward the realization of a sickle cell free society.
