Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the fight against sickle cell anaemia must involve every citizen of the country if Nigeria must succeed in the battle against the dreaded disease.
The former Vice President made the assertion yesterday during a visit to the Maidunama Sickle Cell Foundation in Abuja, as part of activities marking his 67th birthday celebrations.
“Considering the fact that sickle cell anaemia remains the number two killer of children after malaria, it is important that the whole society rises in unison to confront the danger that sickle cell poses to our society,” Atiku said.
According to him, “because these children are our future, we must not relent in our effort to ensure that every obstacle that stands in the way of their growing to adulthood is effectively removed.”
The former Vice President was particularly touched by the situation of a 13 year-old, John Moses, who in spite of his age could not stand on his feet.
The Turaki Adamawa after making a donation of Three Million Naiara (N3,000,000), to the Foundation, called on other well-to-do individuals in the country, government and corporate organizations to similarly identify with the Maidunama Sickle Cell Foundation and other sickle cell combating organizations in Nigeria.
The founder of the foundation, Hajjia Rabi Maidunama, thanked the former Vice President for identifying with the sickle cell children on his birthday anniversary.
She noted that sufficient attention is not being accorded to the fight against sickle, noting “sickle cell has remained an abandoned disease in the country.”
She, however, called on wealthy individuals in the country to also identify with the foundation in its fight to stamp out sickle cell disease in Nigeria.
