By Adaeze Onuora Abakaliki
The National Coordinator, APLSCD and Director, Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu. Mrs Aisha Edwards Maduagwu has Commended the wife of the Governor Ebonyi State Chief Mrs Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Ogbonna Nwifuru for her kind gesture securing a free health insurance for 100 sickle cell persons into Ebonyi Health Insurance Scheme
Mrs Maduagwu expressed joy, noted that the compassionate gesture of Her Excellency towards sickle cell persons, whom are often deprived and vulnerable, is a pointer to the good and acceptable leadership of her husband and governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
This was contained in a press release signed and issued to ispaulpedia.com reporter by Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, National Coordinator,APLSCD and
Director, Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu.
Mrs Maduagwu noted that sickle cell disorder is a thorny issue and a matter of serious health concerns, not just for the carrier and family, but to other societal groups and individuals who expend huge amount of resources for sickle cell sensitization, research and treatment.
According to her, "My joy knew no bounds when I read in the news from ispaulpedia.com online , about the free health insurance given to 100 sickle cell patients into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme"
Mrs Maduagwu explained that her organization, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) is the first sickle cell community in Nigeria, to birth a sickle cell orphanage and underprivileged home, in Agulu, Anambra State.
According to her " Our concerns for persons living with sickle cell disorder stretches beyond State boundaries, as we have some indigent SCD children from Ebonyi State and other States doing well in schooling in the abode."
"For your kind gesture in securing a free health insurance for 100 sickle cell persons, you have left an indelible mark in the sands of time, and we hope that such gestures be extended to many others whom are yet to benefit"
"Assisting the underprivileged is a commendable act, moreso for someone in a position of power. Cases abound where those in positions of power failed to live up to their responsibilities in providing free healthcare deliveries."
The National Coordinator, APLSCD and
Director, Sickle Cell Orphanage, therefore expressed saddnes over a certain governor from south south state who could not impact meaningfully on the lives of sickle cell persons all through their tenure of 8 years;
In her words:
"I vividly recall with pains in my heart, a certain governor from one of the south south states whom we respect so much but could neither, nor his wife impact meaningfully on the lives of sickle cell persons all through their tenure of 8 years, not minding that himself is living with sickle cell disorder. Even the hospital that was built for the management of sickle cell anemia persons was not readily affordable for most seeking treatment both within the state and the neighbouring states"
"I have higher hopes that the current administration in Ebonyi State would be responsive towards the plight of sickle cell persons knowing fully well how prevalent it is in the state due to lack of education and sensitization. I was in the State few years back on three different occasions to sensitize during the United Nations World Sickle Cell Day held every June 19th. The then Speaker of the House of Assembly, who is the current governor deemed it fit to send a representative to the program in the person of Hon. Ossi, Chairman House Committee on Health. His presence was enlivening, and a morale booster for us leading to the success of that program."
"I would like to mention how disappointed I was when a particular former first lady of the state who had 2 sickle cell children, would rather choose VVF as her pet project over Sickle Cell Disorder, not minding that the former is not as prevalent as the later"
Mrs Maduagwu, however, encouraged Ebonyi First Lady to look into mitigating the spread of sickle cell through sensitization and genotype education among various people of interests including students, towards achieving the aim, according to her, " Myself would be readily available to embark on sensitization awareness in Ebonyi schools to increase their knowledge on how to prevent sickle cell disorder"
"Where possible, a replica of the sickle cell orphanage and underprivileged home should be undertaken to serve the interest of impoverished and orphaned sickle cell children, adequately managed by any passionate caregiver, with support from the state government, groups or individuals"
"Collectively, we can win the war against sickle cell disorder, bringing the generation unborn into the fullness of health". Maduagwu said
