On June 19th, the Amana Sickle Cell Foundation commemorated World Sickle Cell Day, as designated by the United Nations, with a series of events aimed at raising awareness and providing support to those affected by the disease. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that the foundation has held activities to highlight the importance of awareness and to offer relief to sickle cell patients.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “Hope through Progress: Advancing Care Globally,” aligned perfectly with the foundation’s mission. A town hall meeting, central to the day’s activities, saw the attendance of government officials, traditional and religious leaders, community members, sickle cell patients, media representatives, and other stakeholders.
His Excellency Alhaji (Arc) Audi Sule Katagum, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, delivered the welcome address, expressing gratitude to all attendees for their participation.
Dr. Alkali Muhammad, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration at the Federal University of Health Sciences, presented a lecture on this year’s theme. He highlighted the alarming prevalence of sickle cell disease in Katagum Local Government Area and stressed the importance of pre-marital genotype screening as a preventive measure. Dr. Muhammad called for a collective effort to promote awareness and compliance.
Engr. Magaji Abdulkadir, representing the Emir of Katagum, commended the foundation’s efforts and pledged the Emirate’s full support in spreading awareness about sickle cell disease.
Hon. Baba Sulaiman, representing the Minister of Health, assured attendees of the ministry’s commitment to combating sickle cell disease in Nigeria. He applauded the foundation’s continuous dedication, particularly praising the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for his tireless efforts.
Alhaji Aminu Ya’u, General Manager of the Human Resource Transmission Company of Nigeria and host of the event, urged participants, especially unmarried youths, to undergo pre-marital genotype screening. He also emphasized the need for financial and emotional support for sickle cell patients, particularly those from vulnerable families.
Other notable attendees included Prof. Asabe Sadiya Muhammad, Provost of Aminu Saleh College of Education Azare, Alhaji Binni Abdulkadir, Deputy Chairman of Katagum LGA, Arc. Usman Jibrin, Dr. Ibrahim Gambo, and Malam Adamu Yahaya.
The event concluded with the distribution of treated bed nets, blankets, and nutritious food packages to sickle cell patients, providing much-needed relief to those affected by the disease. The foundation’s efforts continue to make significant strides in raising awareness and supporting sickle cell patients within the community.
