Wife of Delta State Governor and Founder of 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, has said that Sickle Cell Anemia is not death sentence.

She made the clarification just as Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, assured that the Sickle Cell Clinic established by 05 Initiative at Central Hospital, Warri, will be well managed and accessible to everyone.

Dame Okowa made the declaration in Warri, Delta State, last weekend shortly after commissioning a Sickle Cell Clinic at Central Hospital, Warri, a project that was courtesy of the ingenuity of 05 Initiative, a non-governmental organisation.

The governor’s wife, who stated that a High Court Judge in the state is a Sickle Cell Warrior, in justification that people with Sickle Cell disorder, can get to their career heights, explained that the aim of 05 Initiative is to have a society where no one would have sickle cell disorder.

While stressing the need for everyone to know their genotype and the imperative of faith based organizations, to carry out advocacy on the need for their faithful to know their genotype, Dame Okowa, disclosed: “Our aim is to ensure that all public hospitals in the state, have a sickle cell clinic, before May 29, 2023.

Central Hospital, Warri, now has a screening facility for sickle cell patients. I want to thank Dr. Tidi and the Secretary to Warri South Local Government, Mr. Joseph Oribioye, for ensuring the project was completed in record time.

Dame Okowa, also commended the member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Chief Joseph Otumara and others, who contributed toward the completion of the sickle cell clinic.

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, who spoke to newsmen after the health facility was inaugurated, stated that the governor’s wife deserves all the commendation, describing the sickle cell clinic as a bold step, which has placed Delta State in the world map.

The Warri South Local Government Chief Executive expressed optimism that the Sickle Cell clinic, which is the 18th to be commissioned in the state by 05 Initiative, would be put to good use and the sickle cell warriors will be able to find succor whenever they run to the centre.

The Director-General of 05 Initiative, Mrs. Kevwe Agas, earlier described the actualisation of the Sickle Cell Clinic in Central Hospital, Warri, as a confirmation of Job 14: 9, saying the project which started in 2019,

has always been the heartbeat of Her Excellency (Dame Okowa).

Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ejiro Ogheneagah, expressed happiness over the Sickle Cell Clinics established in the state by the 05 Initiative.

There were health talk by medics on the management of sickle cell, dwelling on ideal foodstuffs that people suffering sickle cell disorder, need to eat daily as well as the necessity of taking their routine drugs.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.