WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY: MRS NKECHI IKPEAZU'S APPROACH

The United Nations had, during their 2008 (63rd session) general assembly earmarked 19th of June annually to mark the World Sickle Cell Day. The day was set aside to increase the awareness campaign about the sickle cell disease and its management among the public in order to take this genetic health condition under control world over. It is celebrated annually by the active participation of the various government organizations, health funding agencies, non-government organizations, NGOs and other health organizations.

The sickle cell anemia is a disorder of the blood caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin. This suggests that sickle cell disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition from both parents. Simply put, there are higher risk of parents who possesses (AS)+(AS), (AA)+(SS) genes of producing offspring with (SS) than parents which possesses (AA)+(AS) and (AA)+(AA).

This abnormal hemoglobin distorts red blood cells (RBC) and when the RBC are ruptured and reduced, the carrier become anemic. Sickling of the RBC in the patients with SCD results in the cells of abnormal shape and diminished flexibility. The Sickling is promoted by conditions which are associated with low oxygen level, increased acidity or low volume of blood.

Sickle cell anemia is a leading cause of death especially children in Nigeria, nay Africa. According to some statistics, over 1000 birth daily in Africa has sickle cell disease cases posing more danger and prevalence of the disease on our society.

Symptoms of this disease includes, fatigue and anemic, pain crisis, lung and heart injury, leg ulcer, aseptic Necrosis and bone infarcts (death of a part of the bone) eye damage, splenic sequestration (sudden pooling of blood in the spleen and liver congestion, bacteria infection, dactylitis, (swelling and inflammation of the hand and feet) etc.

It therefore became expedient  that these critical health defect should not be treated with kids gloves. To this end, the wife of Abia State Governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu has taken up the challenge of ensuring the welfare of the affected class in the society. She has taken a part in this year's sickle cell day by building an ultra-modern sickle cell care center at the State capital, umuahia, through her Vicar Hope Foundation, a charity organization funded by the wife of the governor. The center is slated to be commissioned by Tuesday, the 20th day of June 2017.

Expected at the commissioning  includes the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who will be the Special Guest of Honour while the Wife of the Governor of Imo State. Nneoma Nkech Rochas Okorocha is the Chief Guest of Honour.

Also, there will be an awareness procession along the streets of Umuahia to which will culminate in by the tape cutting ceremony at the Sickle Cell Centre located beside the new Abia Investment House along the Ndume Otuka bypass. The event will be rounded off with a symposium at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia.

~ Abia Online