SICKLE CELL GROUP'S STAKEHOLDERS' MEETING: RISING HOPE FOR SICKLE CELL PATIENTS.

The maiden edition of Sickle Cell Stakeholders' meeting held recently at Aguata Local Government Secretariat Hall with at least 200 Sickle cell patients in attendance, besides members of the clergy, the press, the red cross and a medical practitioner.
The event was an upgrade of what used to be an exclusive meeting for members of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder.

In her address, the coordinator of the group, Aisha Maureen Edward shared that her sole purpose for initiating the association is to bridge the gap between those living with Sickle Cell disorder and the benevolent members of the society, thereby breaking the wings of those fake NGOs who had been feeding fat at the expense of the Sickle Cell cause and people. Aisha expressed her appreciation to God and the church who had been her most gracious support and partners in the pursuit of the cause of the association and on that note announced that, come October 18, members of the association in the Southeast shall be going for thanksgiving at St Patrick's Cathedral, Awka. It was during the event that Aisha Edward gave a rundown of series of landmark achievements recorded by the association within just few years, which include, getting the prestigious Iyi Enu Mission Hospital to write off the huge bill of one of their deceased members as well declare free medical services to Sickle Cell patients; the graduation of 10 members of APLSCD from the first round of the ongoing skill acquisition programme by Osodieme CAFE; the Walk in honor of members of the association by ANAMBRA Broadcasting Service in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Anglican and Catholic church as well as other the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and other corporate bodies.  Aisha also assured sickle cell patients that  more welfare and empowerment packages are still in the pipeline. She also said that plans are underway to get the new and prestigious Sickle Cell ambassador, Zahra Buhari to ANAMBRA State.

Also speaking at the event was a medical practitioner and researcher, Dr A.N Mozie, who shared his burden to alleviate the sufferings of people living with sickle cell disorder. Dr Mozie narrated how he was deeply moved at the sudden death due to sickle cell complications of a promising young girl who just graduated as a medical doctor. 'I went into prayers and cried out to God to show me how to alleviate the woes of Sickle Cell patients and some days later, in a trance, I was shown a cocktail of treatment which I later applied on a sickle cell patient who was having a health crisis and it worked.' He also shared how he saw one of Aisha's publications on a tabloid and quickly saw it as an avenue to share his God-given remedy. He then asked that the Association should assign him two of their members to treat, that he would show by the result he gets from the treatment that there is indeed hope for a healthy life for sickle cell patients. The doctor called on the government to partner with the association as he sees much good coming out of it.

The Diocesan Hospital Administrator of Awka Anglican diocese, Venerable Samuel Okonkwo, JP, who represented the Anglican bishop of Awka Diocese, said the Anglican church is happy to associate with APLSCD, though, according to him, the church had been making effort to see that those sickle cell patients among them in their different parishes are healthy. The venerable added that his happiness was that the founder of the association, Aisha Maureen Edward, has dissociated herself from NGOs who enrich themselves at the expense of the sufferers. He said that his special prayers was that the cause of the association will come to fulfilment. In his words, 'I commend Maureen Edward for taking the bull by the horn to avert the abuses of those so called NGOs. I also commend her for her dogged nature and I am here to assure you all that Awka Anglican diocese has already partnered with the association.'

A prayer session was organized by the Assistant Clerical Synod Secretary, Canon Ifeanyi Emegua of the Church of Pentecost, Awka, who was part of the Venerable's entourage.  Ten more well stocked first aid boxes were shared to some of the patients in attendance and there was refreshment and interactive sessions.

One of the patients who preferred to be anonymous told the press that she cannot contain her joy at the new development called Association of People Living with Sickle cell disorder, courtesy of Aisha Maureen Edward. She prayed God to continue to strengthen her who has been the strength and mouthpiece of sicklers. 'I look forward to subsequent meetings and I will continue to tell other sicklers about the association,' the lady submitted.