Abia First Lady takes sickle cell awareness to NYSC camp in Abia

In her efforts to reduce incidences of sickle cell disease in the state and Nigeria in general, the wife of the state governor, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu yesterday, thrilled Abia National Youth Service Corps, NYSC members with her awareness campaign.

Speaking during the occasion that held in Abia NYSC orientation Camp, Umunna in Bende LGA Deaconess Ikpeazu disclosed “My assignment is that all of young here should become ambassadors for breaking the circle of sickle cell”.

She further charged the youths, “Take the message with you wherever you go. Tell your friends and your younger ones.

Before you cross the line, do the test, Before you commit, do the test, Before you love, do the test.

In her address, the NYSC state Coordinator, Mrs. Francesca Ifon thanked Mrs. Ikpeazu for making the state NYSC medical personnel to be par of her vision aimed at giving hope to the less-privileged in the society through her pet project, Vicar Hope Foundation, VHF stating that her visit will give the corps members the opportunity to know more about the foundation and “thus become vanguards where they will disseminate the information to the nooks and crannies of Abia State.

Also speaking, the chairman, Bende LGA, Okereke Elendu urged all to count themselves as privileged to hear about sickle cell, and advised that the issue and the lecture during the occasion should be taken seriously.

According to the State Commissioner for Youths and Chairman Abia NYSC Governing Board, Ike Anyatonwu, following the sensitization, corps members are VHF ambassadors, while promising to initiate some of them into the foundation.

Earlier in his lecture, the Project Coordinator of VHF, Dr. Chukwuemeka Nwakanma gave an overview of sickle cell as an inherited disease which is transmitted if not checked.
Nigeria, he said has the highest rate of the disorder which he said account for about 8% of infant mortality.

Her highlighted poor knowledge, stigmatization as matters that compound the disorder, coupled with inadequate materials to treat it.

VHF, he said has come to disseminate information an create awareness to break the cycle and for couples to know there genotype before marriage, disclosing that the foundation provides exchange of blood transfusion to reduce the risk.

The foundation, he also said works with other agencies, including pharmaceutical companies to provide necessary drugs, advising carriers not o marry other carriers.
In her speech the Medical Laboratory Scientist of the foundation, Mrs. Patricia Nwankwo explained the laboratory classification of the disorder, and urged people to go for counseling to know their genotype.

In appreciation to the first lady for this and her donation of food items that included bags of rice, tubers of yam, bags of beans, cartons of tin tomatoes, and other food items as well as cash, the corpers performed a cultural dance to the admiration of the first lady.