As part of its commitment to the society, the district 404B2 of the Nigerian chapter of the Lions Club International in collaboration with  Mercy International Medical Mission, has reached out to people living with sickle cell disorder by donating items and raising awareness.
This is in fulfilment of the objectives of the district for the service year which include engaging the youth through empowerment, relieving hunger and diabetes screening as well as special attention to education and enlightenment on sickle cell anaemia, amongst others.
While delivering a lecture on sickle cell disorder, the District Governor, Lion Asiwaju Ayobola Samuel, stated that it was necessary to continue to educate the society on the disease as no amount of awareness was enough.
Ayobola, who was reacting to a report that claimed that over 150,000 children were born every year in Nigeria with symptomatic sickle cell anaemia, noted that the birth rate could be cautioned while the number of deaths arising from the disorder could be reduced if people were well informed and take to advice on the disorder.
In his lecture, the governor advised on genetics counselling before marriage and cautioned patients to avoid factors  that could trigger ‘crisis’ such as stress, extremes of heat and cold weather conditions.
Concluding, he called on well-to-do individuals to show concern for people living with the disease by reaching out to them.
Said he, “As a club, we are trying our best to reduce cases of sickle cell as well as put smiles on the faces of those living with it. However, we can’t do it all alone. As much all we know that having the disease is not the end to life, that is if the necessary things are done and put in place.†That is why we will continue to seek support for the Sickle Cell Foundation.â€
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Dr Akinbami Akinsegun, a haematologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, stressed that sickle cell disease is not an automatic death ticket. However he cautioned would-be couples to undergo necessary medical screening to guard against increasing the figure of patients.
Some of the donated items included a hand Doppler machine, drugs, hospital supplies, amongst others.
