Why don’t we speak enough about Sickle Cell? Research shows that Nigeria has the largest cases of Sickle Cell in the world making up to 8% of infant mortality rates in the country. To put it plainly many children to do not live to see their 10th birthday, the genetic disorder occurs when persons containing sickle cell trait pass on their genes to their children leaving them susceptible to Anemia, delayed growth, frequent infections and strokes. Asides that there is a huge stigma attached to the disorder and we want to push back against that with the help of NGO Nirvana Initiative who specialise in educating people about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at our event- ‘End Sickle Cell in our Generation’.
Nirvana Initiative provides a safe haven for sickle cell individuals so they do not have to feel alone knowing they have a community there to pray with them, laugh and support them in all their endeavors. Nirvana Initiative will be providing free genotype testing for 200 people on the day 50 of which will be free. They will also provide free drugs for warriors (a term used to describe those living with sickle cell) finally there would be free counselling for those who feel it may be required.