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Don Seeks Aid for Sickle Cell Patients By Oghenekevwe Laba and Hilary Odenoze A lecturer at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Professor Wuraola Sokunbi yesterday appealed to the Federal Government and philantropists, to come to the aid of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) patients as studies revealed that relatives of most of those suffering from the disease are constrained financially. Sokunbi, who made the appeal during the official launch of Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation (TAHF) projects and the celebration of the 5th Anniversary of (TAHF) in Lagos, said the down turn in Nigerian economy has hampered the care of SCD patients, adding that the result is that many of them have decided to seek care outside specialised centres. She noted that with the current inflationary trend, they have projected that the average SCD patient with clinical severe disease may need up to N100,000 annually, to cover his or her medical bills adding that this annual financial project covers prophylactic drugs, analgesics, antibiotics, blood transfusion and laboratory investigations among others. Sokunbi said the average Nigerian family with SCD patients almost exclusively bears the burden of care, because there is no national social welfare package. Consequently Sokunbi advised that government should take immediate steps at establishing semi-autonomous SCD centres with annual budget for treatment, research, genetic counseling and prevention strategies. She equally advised that prophylectic drugs should be provided free to patients as it will further reduce the number of crisis episode per year. The Professor further advised that the education of SCD, career guidance and job placement should receive financial support from government just as she equally appeal to non-governmental organisations (NGO), philanthropists and self help groups to complement government effort. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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