God will Judge fake NGOs who use Sickle cell to make money - Bishop Ibezim

Rt. Revd. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim (PhD) is the Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese. In the following interview with the Coordinator of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, Edward Aisha, he reveals the stance of the Anglican Communion on genotype marriage counseling, pseudo-NGOs and related issues. Enjoy it. 

Research has it that, despite the fact that we now live in an information age, babies with sickle cell anemia are still being born. How do you react to this and what is the church doing to stem this tide?

We in the church make sure that, as part of the counseling before marriage, we educate the intended couples on the dangers of going ahead to marry when they are compatible genotype-wise. Because it is better to make sure that the person you are about to marry is somebody that is compatible. Marriage is all about relationship and the end product of marriage is children. Unless it is a marriage where children are not wanted, then there is no need to worry about sickle cell. But you know that people these days are blind about love. Still, in the same marriage, you say ‘for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer.’ But after counseling people, we still leave them to decide what they want to do. So, that is why in the church you still see that despite the fact that that they pass through the institutional counseling sessions, people still say, ‘I love that girl, I will marry her,’ and they end up producing sicklers.

Is the Anglican church aware that there is a law prohibiting people from getting married if they are not compatible?

Of course, we are aware of that but one thing is to make laws and another thing is for people to obey them. The clergy cannot follow them to their bedrooms to force them, especially if they had done the traditional marriage. Love is sometimes above the law and people do what they feel God led them to do. The problem is more prevalent here in the developing countries. It is not like that in the developed worlds. There, people are more cautious.

One of the major challenges of sickle cell patients is that of stigmatization, both from immediate family members and the general public. How is the church helping to correct people’s wrong perception of sickle cell carriers?

Well, the issue of stigmatization is an issue I am just hearing for the first time. Those who are sicklers in our midst are not being discriminated against. I’m sure. If it happens in other places, it is very strange. People suffering from such diseases are not outcasts.

Many folks have hidden behind the name – Sickle cell foundation, to rip off the gullible well- meaning members of the public, when their foundation makes no impact whatsoever on those living with sickle-cell anemia, how does his lordship react to this trend?

Our society, I’m sorry to say, is lawless; where people take advantage of other people’s predicament. I was passing somewhere the other day and I saw somebody with a very gory tumor being carried about by some healthy folks as they appealed to passer-bys’ sentiments for alms. Such a person is not supposed to be on the road. And it is people that sponsor such.  Where are our social workers? So people that do such things are crooks and GOD WILL JUDGE THEM.

Recently, people living with sickle cell anemia have decided to take the bull by the horn by going about more intensive sensitization project, starting from Anambra state. How can the church partner with them in realizing this cause?

When genuine ones come around, we shall see how to support them because some of sicklers are our church members. We have our welfare department that critically examines and sees to the aiding of such organizations.

One of the prime suspects  that runs Sickle cell Foundation Nigeria, has been contacted by a reporter and from his response it was gathered that he neither has offices in the South-east, nor representatives, yet he added the prefix ‘Nigeria’ to his foundation. It was also gathered that he has collected some multiple millions from the federal government and yet he has not impacted on the lives of sickle cell patients. How would you react to this?

Not only the church, but the government should step in. The church is not a law enforcement agency. But we cannot close our eyes to such things. There are many other ways people come up with fake things as if they are the real. That is why NGOs have multiplied. Someone called me the other day saying his organization wants to give me a leadership award. I told him that I don’t need the award because I know from experience that if I indicate interest, he would say the award costs 300000 or something like that. An award you pay for, is it a genuine award? When you award somebody, you should reward him too.  So, the government should investigate people who want to register NGOs to ascertain their credibility and integrity., because NGO is a ministry and a serious affair.

Any Final words?

Well, I wish to applaud the effort of the initiators of this association of sickle cell patients. I also want to say kudos to the wife of the Executive Governor of Anambra state, whom I have learnt is also supporting the association. i wish to encourage the association to keep up the good fight and know that we are praying for them and would always be available to support them in however way we can. I call on all well-meaning Nigerians to assist this association to achieve their noble aim which will be for the benefits of our society in general.