SICKLE CELL FOUNDATION NIGERIA HOLDS A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING TO MARK THE 2024 WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY

A virtual Town Hall meeting to change the narrative around the sickle cell disorder in Nigeria was held on Thursday, June 20^th, 2024. The meeting, which featured a panel of discussants, was tagged Sickle Cell Disorder: A National Emergency and streamed live on Zoom, FaceBook, Instagram, YouTube, X and Mixlr.

Professor Adekunle Adekile (Professor at the Department of Paediatrics, Kuwait University) chaired the panel while Dr. Titilope Fasipe (Co-Director, Texas Children’s Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Programme) was moderator.

One of the speakers at the panel discussion was Laycon, musician, songwriter and SCFN Ambassador. Other discussants were Bukola Bolarinwa (Lawyer, Advocate and President SCAF), Dr. Alayo Sopekan (Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Health and Desk Officer, SCD), Dr. Abosede Wellington (public health physician and SCD Coordinator at the Lagos State Ministry of Health), Professor Adeyinka Falusi (Professor of Haematology and President of SCHAF), Dame Edith Okowa (former First Lady of Delta State and Founder of 05 Initiative) and Dr. Annette Akinsete (ND/CEO of Sickle Cell Foundation).

The panel discussed a range of issues: SCD facts and myths; perceptions/ stigmatisation of persons living with SCD within the society; prevention, screening and treatments; and health care systems.

Persons living with the sickle cell disorder, their families and friends, caregivers, health workers and the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs attended the meeting. Other stakeholders present were the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Lagos State Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation, Donor Partners (Pfizer, Healing Blends), NCD Alliance, GANSID, Nigeria Heart Foundation, Sickle Cell Support Society of Nigeria, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Advocacy groups and other NGOs.

A Communiqué was produced and circulated at the end of the meeting.