As part of efforts to commemorate the 2024 World Sickle Cell Day, the family of late businessman cum politician, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin has donated the sum of five million naira to the Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF).
The family, who also presented medical packs that will last in the treatment of each sickle cell patient for three months to over 500 patients across age brackets, also declared a book to honour their late father, who was also a carrier of the disease during his lifetime.
Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin died at the age of 51 on June 18, 1991.
The presentation of #5 million cheque to the founder, SCHAF, Professor Adeyinka Ogunlusi, was performed at an event organised by SCHAF in conjunction with the Ogundoyin family to make the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Speaker of the State Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin enjoined the Foundation to judiciously distribute the funds to sickle cell warriors for them to get consumables and needed medications.
The Speaker said his family would continue to advocate and support sickle cell carriers in honour of their father, the late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin who also lived with sickle cell till his death in 1991.
The Oyo Speaker urged sickle cell warriors not to sulk over having the disease but to remain determined to achieve their dreams.
Ogundoyin charged all and sundry to step up advocacy and awareness campaigns and help end stigmatisation against carriers, noting the immense pain that sickle cell carriers grapple with.
To keep the memory of the late Ogundoyin alive, the event saw the declaration that a book titled: ‘Passion Beyond Borders: The Untold Story of Adeseun Ogundoyin’, will be written within the next year, to be authored by the state Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
The Chairman of the occasion and the state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, stressed that people should not allow their health condition to define the heights they can attain in life.
The Deputy Governor described the late Ogundoyin as a dogged fighter, a successful business with links that cut across zones, and one who lived an impactful life.
In her keynote address, Professor Chinedum Babalola, who is Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University, decried that sickle cell warriors lacked access to funding and insurance from the government.
Professor Babalola identified early detection, treatment and awareness as key to reducing the high trend of sickle cell disease among Nigerians.
She also enjoined sickle cell patients to draw inspiration from stories of resilience and determination of many carriers who had attained great heights in various fields of endeavour.
The founder, SCHAF, Professor Adeyinka Falusi, in her presentation, disclosed that the government must champion the cause of awareness, empowerment of warriors, health insurance funding and point-of-care testing.
Falusi said sickle cell patients needed succour as many of them had to grapple with multi-organ issues, leg ulcers, and jaundice apart from economic and social burdens.
Acknowledging the contribution of the late Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin to the fight against Sickle Cell disease in their addresses at the event, the Project Lead, Ikon Health Foundation, Dr. Chioma Ihekoronye and a member, board of Trustee of Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation, SCHAF, Engr. Ibukun Falusi, appreciated all stakeholders who are instrumental to reducing the burden of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.
They called for increased funding for research and more robust support for those living with sickle cell disease.
