No fewer than 1,000 children living with Sickle cell disease have received free intensive medical care at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, as part of this year’s World Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
Every September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, to help focus attention on the need for research and treatment of sickle cell diseases.
Chairman, Paediatric Sickle Support Initiative of Nigeria, Stephen Adeshina, who led the event, said it was part of this month’s activities aimed at giving succour to the children in terms of the right medication, nutrition, and proper care.
Head of Department of Paediatrics, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Professor Uche Nnebe Agumadu explained that sickle cell disease was no longer a terminal disease with the right treatment and quick response.
Some parents of the children living with Sickle cell disease mentioned the challenges they faced while managing the cases, which included crisis situations and the high cost of medication.
Reporting by Kayode Oyebisi; Editing by Muzha Kucha and Julian Osamoto