Resilience, hope and advocacy took centre stage as stakeholders gathered for the Second Annual Sickle Cell Warrior Party and Medical Outreach, an event that blended celebration with a renewed call for systemic action on Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Nigeria.
The colourful gathering in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, brought together medical professionals, government representatives, development partners, families and, most importantly, individuals living with SCD fondly referred to as “Warriors.”
Speaking, the Executive Director of the O.A Initiative, Dr Ayomide Olanipekun, described the event as more than a social gathering, saying it was a deliberate effort to shift the narrative around Sickle Cell from one of silent suffering to one of visible strength and collective responsibility.
She noted that while the condition is often associated with pain and limitation, the Warriors present embodied courage, endurance and dignity in the face of daily challenges.
Olanipekun explained that the second edition of the programme symbolised growth and continuity in the Initiative’s commitment to ensuring that no person living with SCD is left to navigate the journey alone.
He commended the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his programmes and policies aimed at improving the welfare of warriors with free healthcare services in the state.
She stressed that the gathering was equally an advocacy platform aimed at pulling Sickle Cell Disease out of the margins of healthcare discussions and placing it firmly on the national policy agenda, revealing that the constant advocacy of the initiative led the state government to declare free healthcare services for the warriors.
The presence of Warriors, families and partners, she said, sends a strong signal to policymakers on the urgent need for sustainable interventions, including comprehensive newborn screening, subsidised treatment and the establishment of specialised care centres.
“We are not just asking for sympathy, we are demanding policies that recognise the rights and dignity of every Warrior,” she added.
She expressed profound gratitude to the Nigeria Youth Future Funds (NYFF), describing its sponsorship as an investment in the lives, dreams and potential of young Nigerians living with SCD.
The collaboration with the Ministry of Health was also praised for ensuring that medical consultations, screenings and services offered at the outreach met professional standards.
As part of the outreach, Warriors benefited from free medical consultations, screenings and the distribution of essential items aimed at improving daily management of the condition.
These included water bottles, food items, routine medications and insecticide-treated nets, all provided to ensure participants left the event better equipped for their health journey.
On his part, Dr Sunday Ibijola commended the efforts of the OA initiative in their advocacy and commitment towards the welfare of the warriors in the state.
Ibijola, a newly appointed permanent secretary in the state, urged the warriors not to be discouraged by their health challenges, ” but be courageous to achieve their full potential in life.”
The president of Sickle Cell Warriors Club, Ajimoh, lauded the sacrifices and commitment of the executive director to the welfare and well-being of the warriors in the state.
