Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a debilitating and deadly, genetically inherited blood disorder that manifest in various ways and it is afflicting the global population in alarming proportions.
Sickle Cell Disease has no cure but can be properly managed with medical care and medications. Those affected will have better lives and they will live longer with medical care and medications.
“At least 100,000 infants die from Sickle –Cell genetic disorder in Nigeria every year” (IRIN), August 21, 2008.“Based on World Health Organization indices Nigeria accounts for 75% of infants Sickle-Cell cases in Africa and almost 80% of infant death from the disease in the Continent” Sadiq Wali, President of the Nigerian Sickle Cell Foundation.
According to the WHO, 200,000 infants are born with sickle-cell in Africa every year, with Nigeria accounting for about three-quarters of these births. Sixty percent of the 200,000 will die as infants.
http://www.irinnews.org/news/2008/08/21/sickle-cell-disorder-killing-100000-infants-year
Most Nigerians are not aware of the causes of sickle cell disease. Often mothers of children with sickle cell disease are held in contempt, abused and are isolated in poverty. This is one of the main causes of divorce in Nigeria, other African Countries and Canada. Our mission includes the provision of counseling, awareness, support, workshops, seminars and other support services to families and communities.
The problems that we have identified are completely manageable and with our proposed, the lives of 200 children with sickle cell disease will be medically managed and provide workshops and seminars for medical staff, and communities in Nigeria. The overall impact of our involvement will directly improve medical care, medications, medical equipment and provide necessary workshops and seminars.