Lagos: CrimsonBow facilitates free medical care for 200 sickle cell patients

…canvass new born test, free medication

The CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation passionate about ensuring the welfare of sickle cell patients, on Saturday facilitated free medical tests, screening and medication for about 200 patients in Lagos.

Mrs Christianah Bakare, the Project Coordinator for the initiative disclosed this at the “Project Treat A Warrior” clinic organised by the NGO at Ikeja.

“We are doing here today what we called project treat a warrior. This is where we bring community of sickle cell patients together.

“We help them and give them free medical consultations and medications as we bring doctors from different medical fields and hospital. We are out to help the patients cushion the effects of sickle cell.

“We have almost 200 people in attendance as we speak and the number is increasing. We intend to attend to all patients that present themselves We also have other programmes for them,” she said.

Bakare said that the initiative had also carried out other activities such as Project Empower A Warrior, Project GenEducation, Project Keep A Warrior Warm and Training for Sickle cell patients.

According to her, the initiative will not relent efforts in assisting people living with sickle cell disease in the country.

“In our project GenEducation, we go down to communities to tell people about sickle cell.

“We educate people about how to avoid it and how to maintain and take care of those that have the diseases to avoid complications surroundings the disease,” Bakare said.

According to her, now that the nation is in raining season, parents who have children with sickle cell must keep them warm, give them water to be hydrated all the time.

Bakare urged the government across levels to be more attentive to the plights of the patients and help to stop all discrimination and marginalisation.

According to her, the incoming President must give more attention to people living with sickle cell and ensure free screening, tests and medication for patients.

“We have done a lot for the communities like others NGOs. The government should reach out to us to help more of these people at the grassroots,” she said.

The initiative also availed patients Full Blood Count, Malaria Parasite and Genotype tests free of charge.

There were also opticians, heamatologist, psychologist and dentist around to attend to other health needs of the people.

Mrs Bolanirandeji Adeyale, the Finance Director CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, whose 45th Birthday Celebration coincided with the event, said that with good medications and care, Sickle cell patients could live long.

“I will say the government has not done enough because most of the patients you see here today are indigent patients who do not have the finances to take care of themselves.

“So many of them (parent) leave their children at home, they don’t take them to the hospital because they do not have the wherewithal.

“We need the help of God for good medical care. I am here today, gone through crises of teenage years and giving birth because I have the best of medications and hospital,” she said.

She however said that the Lagos State Government had tried with ILERA EKO initiative but the patients needed more of such to free treatment for the sickle cell victims.

According to her, there is no way anyone can keep sickle cell patients without correct medical treatment and knowing what to do on daily basis.

She urged the incoming administration to ensure mandatory new born sickle cell testing because “when it is detected at birth, the treatment becomes easy”.

“New born testing is very key. As a patient, I was not diagnosed until I was 12 after I had gone through pains and visited different hospitals, not knowing what was wrong with me. Sickle cell is not a dead sentence,” Adeyale said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Titilope Kalejaye described the gesture as laudable saying that the CrimsonBow had been showing concern about patients’ welfare on monthly basis.

Kalejaye said that through the initiative, she got enlisted in the Lagos State ILERA EKO health scheme and it was renewed for her and other beneficiaries.

Miss Balikis Akinyoade, another patient said, “CrimsonBow has been helpful to many of us. We get free treatment and medications at regular interval.”

Meanwhile, Dr Gbenga Adebayo, a Heamatologist while counseling the caregivers and patients said that if Adeyale could live for 45 years, every patients could survive till ripe age.

“Don’t give up your child can make it. Don’t miss your check up appointment, stay the rigour to get attended to. Use your medications appropriately as given by your care givers,” he said.

“If we have Adeyale, a senior banker, a chartered accountant with lovely kids and she is doing well you can also do well,” Adebayo charged patients.