Awka, the ANAMBRA state capital took her routine Saturday physical
workout to another dimension on September 12, as Anambra Broadcasting
Service Management and Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder led all the who's who in the state on a Walk in Honor
of those living with Sickle Cell Disorder.
The walk
which was tagged 'ANAMBRA Walks to Life' commenced around 6:30am at ABS
complex as more than 500-man caravan comprising the state's Honourable
Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike, Mr Uche Nworah, the Managing
Director of ABS, Ms Aisha Maureen Edward, the Coordinator of
Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, Hon. Pharm. Obinna Emenaka, honourable member of the
state house of Assembly.
Others were members of ABS
management crew and other media houses, representatives from the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, representatives of the wife
of the governor and the Commissioner for women Affairs, an Ambulance,
many members of the Red Cross and Federal Road Safety Commission took to
the street bearing banners announcing the need to care for Sickle cell
patients and prevent further production of Sickle Cell babies.
The
troupe went through Unizik- Arthur Eze Avenue, Eke Awka and through Jet
Filling station and finally ended up at ABS complex for the ceremony
proper.
In her speech, during the event, the Coordinator of Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, Ms Aisha Maureen Edward, expressed her delight at the honor being accorded sickle cell patients by the state, powered by ABS.
In her speech, during the event, the Coordinator of Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, Ms Aisha Maureen Edward, expressed her delight at the honor being accorded sickle cell patients by the state, powered by ABS.
She informed that
the day's event was a climax to an awareness campaign she, through her
association, initiated earlier in the year given the dismal way the
issue of sickle cell disorder had hitherto been treated, not to talk of
her observed fraudulent practices of NGOs who use the name of Sickle
Cell to amass wealth for themselves.
She used the medium
to express her gratitude to the Bishop of Awka Catholic Diocese, Most
Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor and the Bishop of Aguata Anglican Diocese,
Most Revd. Christian Efobi for financially supporting the programme; the
wife of the Executive Governor of ANAMBRA State, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu
Obiano, for taking the lead in empowerment of sickle cell patients by
assimilating 10 patients in the ongoing skill acquisition programme in
the state; the Chairman, ANAMBRA State Local Government Service
Commission, Dr P. Egenti, who pledged to create 21 job slots in the 21
local government secretariats of the state; the Pharmaceutical Society
of Nigeria led by Pharm. Chisom, for pledging their unalloyed support to
the Association and donating first aid kits and drugs to the
Association; Dr Josephat Akabuike, for always being there for the
Association; the NDLEA; Freshlife pure water and a host of other
sponsors of the programme and the activities of the Association. She
then called on all federal and state government personnel, religious
bodies, the media and legislators, individuals and corporate bodies to
continue with her in the fight to break the jinx of sickle cell scourge
in the society to a conclusive end.
In his speech, the honourable commissioner for health, Dr Joseph at Akabuike shared his thoughts about the sickle cell situation, saying that he has observed that for health conditions like sickle cell disorder, there are people living with such conditions and people living ON those conditions; those who amass wealth for themselves using the name of such conditions.
In his speech, the honourable commissioner for health, Dr Joseph at Akabuike shared his thoughts about the sickle cell situation, saying that he has observed that for health conditions like sickle cell disorder, there are people living with such conditions and people living ON those conditions; those who amass wealth for themselves using the name of such conditions.
He
registered his displeasure at individuals and bodies who engage in such
inhuman acts while congratulating Ms Aisha Edward for her energetic
approach toward the fight against the sickle cell scourge. He reassured
the group that his ministry will continue to partner with them as they
have made his job easier in that dimension.
Also noteworthy among the series of speeches rendered during the event was that of the Honourable member representing ANAMBRA West in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Pharm. Obinna Emenaka who observed with dismay that in this global world, people are still ignorant of their genotype and/or choose to outrightly ignore their genotype while matchmaking, in the name of 'blind love'.
Also noteworthy among the series of speeches rendered during the event was that of the Honourable member representing ANAMBRA West in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Pharm. Obinna Emenaka who observed with dismay that in this global world, people are still ignorant of their genotype and/or choose to outrightly ignore their genotype while matchmaking, in the name of 'blind love'.
Climax of the event were the distribution of 57
First Aid Boxes and drugs, to the member of the Association, courtesy of
the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; the touching presentation by a
beauty Queen, Zamfara State's Miss Tourism who announced that she is a
Sickle Cell patient but would rather prefer that she and her kind be
addressed as Sickle Soldiers; the entertainment of more than 300 sickle
cell patients in attendance by several musical artistes; a child prodigy
and stand up comedians.
Sickle Cell patients get employment in Anambra
Reviewed by Vita Ioanes
on
Monday, September 14, 2015
Rating:

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