…as Ekiti Gov renovates about 177 Wards to support Initiatives
By Udesinanna Stephen, Akubulu Ngozi
In commemoration of the 2023 World Sickle Cell Disease, the Olanipekun Ayomide (AO) Initiative in partnership with Ayeni Idowu Sickle Cell
Foundation (AISCF) and Sefunmi Ojo’s Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Campaign (SCDAC) have launched campaign against sickle cell disease in Ekiti, with a call for health insurance for victims.
This was made known in Ado-Ekiti by the Director of O.A. Initiative, Dr. Ayomide Olanipekun while addressing the press on behalf of the collaborative Organisations, before the first ever Ekiti Sickle Cell Disease road walk today.
The OA Director said, “According to data, the majority of people living with Sickle Cell Disease in Ekiti State do not have access to free healthcare or health insurance, as they pay for their medical expenses out of their pockets, which has severely depleted their funds given that the majority of them are also jobless.”
Other challenges identified in Ekiti state in respect to SCD include: the absence of data on people with Sickle Cell Disease (PwSCD), disaggregation of various co-existing health challenges (such as hepatitis, HIV, orthopedic conditions) and also various social-cultural challenges like stigmatization and deprivation. She disclosed.
As part of plans to support Sickle Cell victims and manage the situation in Ekiti State, the Director said, the Initiatives planned for the creation and maintenance of an active relatable sickle cell disease database across the 16 local governments in the state, which is ongoing to develop sickle cell prevention, commence enrollment of sickle cell disease patients into Ekiti Health Insurance Programme, EKHIS, establish sickle cell disease club and others.
She also commended the Governor of Ekiti state, Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment in providing a working avenue for the initiative’s activities; similarly, Dr. Olanipekun appreciated Ekiti Health Insurance Administration and Ekiti Health Care Primary Agency for their cooperation to the Initiatives’ goals.
From Left: Head AISCF, Ayeni Idowu; Head SCDAC, Sefunmi Ojo and Head AO Initiative, Olanipekun Ayomide.
Speaking at the event is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State on Community Communication, Mrs Mary Omotosho who revealed that “The Government of Ekiti has renovated about 177 wards in the health sector to provide conducive health environment for this initiative. I must admit that, you are not only helping the warriors but the government as well.”
Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State on Community Communication, Mrs Mary Omotosho
More so, during an interactive session with the Former State Senior Adviser SSA, to the Ekiti State Government on Public Health, Dr. Jimlas Opeyemi, he stated that the sickle cell awareness Initiatives have been able to combat the ills and misconceptions concerning sickle cell victims, adding that the initiative has created “massive” sensitization programmes in all local governments in the state and instigated health walk to mobile victims for proper health care.
Former State Senior Adviser SSA, to the Ekiti State Government
Moving on, one of the beneficiaries who doubles as a partner to the Initiative, Sefunmi Ojo, consented that the initiative has fostered “immerse” support for victims, to which she also is a benefactor
In the same vein, Mr. Ajimoh Opeyemi, whose son happens to be a benefactor, revealed that, more than N150 thousand Naira was made available to him by the Initiatives when his son was admitted on sickle cell issues.
