Delta govt expresses commitment to managing sickle cell disorder

Delta State Government has expressed its determination to intensify efforts at empowering existing sickle cell clinics to spread awareness on preventing new cases of Sickle Cell Disease and strengthen capacity at ensuring proper management of sickle cell disorder clients.

Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge stated this on Monday at an event to mark the 2017 World Sickle Cell Day.

Dr. Azinge who expressed the hope that the new technology of bone marrow transplant, as well as the newborn screening for sickle cell disorder, would provide the cure for the disorder noted that the state government has the goal of establishing functioning sickle cell clinics in every local government area in the state to give needful counseling and proper management of people with SCD.

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Fellow Deltans, today is World Sickle Cell Day!

2. It is a day established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 at its 63rd Session. That establishment formally declared Sickle Cell Disorder also referred to as SCD, a public health problem and one of the world’s foremost genetic diseases to create awareness about the disease, early diagnosis and appropriate management. It was first celebrated on 19th June 2009.
3. Considering the many challenges associated with the disorder, I believe the theme for this year’s celebration “The Importance of Effective Management of Sickle Cell Disorder” could not have come at a better time. The theme represents a reassuring hope that with effective treatment and management, sickle cell disorder and its crisis can be reduced. The theme is also a wake-up call to intensify efforts at preventive and appropriate management for sickle cell disorder.

Our goal is to have functioning sickle cell clinics in every local government area in the state to give needful counselling and proper management of people with SCD.

4. It is in this regard that we especially commend the activities of the ’05 Initiative ‘, an interventionist program of Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa, wife of the State Governor, aimed at bringing succour to sufferers of the disorder. Her efforts through the O5 initiative have successfully brought about the establishment and upgrading of nine (9) Sickle Cell Clinics in public hospitals in the State, namely; Sapele, Agbor, Ughelli, Oleh, Kwale, Eku, Patani, Koko, and Otu-Jeremi. Already, the Initiative has secured a block of wards at the Central Hospital, Asaba, currently under construction, to establish a Sickle Cell Centre to make Delta the third State in the Federation to have such Centre where advanced treatment and research on the disorder will be carried out.
5. No doubt, efforts like this have contributed to improving our hospital records which show that there has been an increase in the number of children living with the sickle cell disorder who now visit our clinics for care. The statistics show that currently, we have a total of 3, 239 clients receiving care from 19 Sickle Cell Clinics in the state.

We believe that this increase has been due to improvement in the degree of attention given to the disorder, and the increase in the number of surviving children from the disorder. However, mortality and morbidity among those children undergoing crises remain significant and deserve increased attention from all. This is why all stakeholders need to do more in keeping hope alive for sickle cell disorder sufferers or clients.

6. While we are earnestly hoping that the new technology of bone marrow transplant, as well as the newborn screening for sickle cell disorder, would provide the cure for the disorder, the Ministry would continue to intensify efforts at empowering existing sickle cell clinics to spread awareness on preventing new cases of SCD and strengthen our capacity at ensuring proper management of sickle cell disorder clients.
7. At this juncture, I wish to appreciate the O5 initiative and the MTN Foundation that has collaborated with the Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria to provide free drugs for patients with SCD in Delta State. It is heart-warming that over 3,000 SCD patients have benefited so far from the Foundation’s benevolence. I also appreciate the various sickle cell clubs in the state, genetic counsellors, caregivers and all those who have laboured ceaselessly to give these people a good lease of life.
8. Once again, I want to sincerely thank His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and Her Excellency Dame Edith Okowa for giving Deltans and the Ministry of Health the needed support to put smiles on the faces of our sickle cell children and their parents.