Adebayo Adenrele
…urges registration at PHCs for free treatment
…says 2,309 people live with SCDs in Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has lauded the efforts of the tripartite non-governmental organizations, Olanipekun Ayomide Initiative, Ayeni Idowu Sickle Cell Foundation and Sefunmi Ojo’s Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Campaign (SCDAC), for empowering Sickle Cell patients in the state in a bid to secure a good life for them
Mary Omotosho, the senior special assistant to the governor on community communications, gave the commendation on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during an advocacy walk by the organizations in commemoration of 2023 World Sickle Cell Day.
Omotosho, at the advocacy walk themed “Building and Strengthening Sickle Cell Communities in Ekiti State”, added that the Ekiti State government, with the support of the World Bank, has disbursed checks for the upgrade and equipment of all PHCs across the 177 wards in the state.
According to her, “This is a great initiative in Ekiti State, and we want to commend the organizers for helping the government because the government can’t do it alone.
“The government is doing everything we are supposed to do to ensure that sickle cell warriors have good lives by creating free health care services for them.
“With the support of the World Bank, the Governor distributed checks for the upgrade and equipment of all primary health care centers across all 177 wards in the state.
“They can go to the ministry of health to register under the Ekiti state health insurance scheme. Treatment for them is free; they will get free medical attention everywhere.” She said
While urging Sickle Cell patients to reach out to their agencies for help and ameliorate stigmatization, the executive director of O.A. Initiative, Dr. Olanipekun Ayomide, also called on the state government to initiate mass genotype testing at all PHCs in the state so that people can be aware of theirs on time.
She noted that 2,309 people are living with the disease in Ekiti State, which would have been reduced if there had been mass genotype testing.
“Here in Ekiti State, available statistics revealed that a total of 2,309 people are living with sickle cell diseases.
“What the government can do is have mass genotype testing at all primary health care centers so that more people can know their genotype on time.
“Also, when immunization is done, there should be a genotype system bag so that they can be doing it at the same time because prevention is better than cure.” She noted
On his part, the advocacy team leader, Asiwaju Oladimeji, noted that they have been enrolling their beneficiaries in the free health care insurance in the state.
This, according to him, was achieved through partnership with the Ekiti State Government Insurance Scheme in order for them to enjoy free medical care.
