Foundation Donates Drugs, ITNs for Sickle Cell Patients in BDTH
By Ahmed Ahmed
A humanitarian group known as Valuechain Sickle Cell Foundation, has donated drugs and Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna.
The founder of foundation, who is also the Publisher of Valuechain Magazine, Mr Musa Bashir Usman made the donation to the hospital management for onward distribution to patients suffering from Sickle Cell Disease on Thursday in Kaduna.
While making the donation, he said that they were also at the hospital to sensitize citizens on the management , cautioned ,care and support to sickle cell patients
Usman said the Foundation was initiated because they know the pains the patients go through when in crisis of sickle cell.
According to him, “We are here to support patients with the little we have and the donations we received.”
He explained that sensitization was important to let people know how they can be affected by sickle cell and ways they can manage the symptoms.
The CEO Valuechain Sickle Cell Foundation advised that all patient of sickle cell deserves love, care and affection to strengthen them.
He said they were at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital ahead of the World Sickle Cell Day, because it is the clinical day of the patients, pointing out that the World Sickle Cell Day is marked annually on June 19
He further said that other hospitals like the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) and another in Kaduna metropolis will also be visited.
“You are not the only ones going through this crisis, several others are also sickle cell patients. It is not a death sentence, just obey doctors prescription and I pray God will keep you healthy.
“We have it on record that some with sickle cell even live beyond life expectancy in Nigeria, even attaining 90 years,” he added.
He said the government is trying its best because the treatment for sickle cell is subsidised.
“Government can still do more. They should place this disease as one of the priorities. They should also create more awareness. To prevent the disease, because in places like Europe, I doubt if they still record cases because of the level of awareness,” he added.
On her part ,A sickle cell warrior, Hauwa Mohammed Lawal, who is 30 years old, advised patients to rest well, drink lots of water and adhere to prescription.
She said she was diagnosed with sickle cell since she was six months old.
In his remarks Dr. Lawal Haliru HOD Paediatrics Section Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, appreciated the Valuechain Foundation and those who made the donation possible.
Haliru, who is a Consultant Paediatrician, called on others to emulate them and come to the aid of patients.
“They are on medication for life and they need support to sustain the drug therapy,” he said.
The Items donated included 15 insecticide treated nets, 60 packs of folic acid and other drugs for onward distribution to sickle cell patients at the hospital.
Our correspondent reported that the foundation was formed in 2019 and has since then been intervening in several ways for sickle cell patients.