By Augustus Bill
The Association of Persons Living with Sickle Cell Disorder has continued her vigorous sensitization campaign across the state, as they were at St. Joseph Ekwulobia to sensitize Educationists of the Ekwulobia Deanery of Awka Diocese.
The coordinator of the association, Aisha Edward highlighted the plights of persons living with sickle cell disorder, as they suffer gruelling hardships and neglect from the society due to their disorder. She said that these persons are suffering the consequences of the ignorance of their parents, some of whom have kicked their wards out.
She emphasised that the roles of teachers in the sensitizing cause is quite enormous, as they were not just teachers but also parents and have double roles to play in ensuring that the sickle cell scourge is purged from the society.
Aisha warned parents to desist from forcing their wards into marriages, as these scenarios have led to spouses forging their genotype results so as to get married with their blind love, which eventually regains sight the moment a sickle cell child is born. She x-rayed that the cost of maintaining a sickle cell child is same as the cost of maintaining ten other children, and as such leaves most families in peril.
The coordinator urged the educationists to extend the sensitization to their various classrooms, and ensure that every child from nursery, primary and post primary schools know their genotype and the implications of the genotypes. This she said is also in line with the Anambra State Sickle Cell Law as enacted in 2002.
Reacting to the lecture, the Education Secretary, appreciated the association for her sensitization cause, while urging them not to relent in their efforts in ensuring that the proliferation of the scourge is brought to an end.
