RENEWED BLOOD -Book by Olusegun Isaac
Introduction
A friend of ours whom we mocked as 'S.U.' before we ourselves found Christ and who was suffering from SCD and was too sickly to partake in our frivolities at our youthful days now lives a happy life in the U.S.A. He is now in his late sixties living in joy and prosperity as a husband and father of great children. His love for Christ and committed prayer life has sustained him!
The World Health Organisation recommended that “Where disorders are common, special dedicated Centers are required, to ensure adequate services for treatment and prevention” No country in the world qualifies for this more than Nigeria where one in every four persons is a healthy carrier of the sickle cell gene (Hb AS). Although Nigeria shares this characteristic with neighbouring countries, its large population of over 180 million sets it apart with regard to the number of healthy carriers and, consequently, the number of children born annually with SCD.
In numerical terms, over 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene, while over 150,000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS). This is by far the largest burden of the disorder anywhere in the world and most of these children would die in childhood from ignorance and lack of access to proper diagnosis and care. Sickle cell centers are ideal institutions for addressing the problems of SCD.
In Nigeria, our center is the National Sickle Cell Centre, NSCC., collaborating Sickle Cell Centers in each State of the Federation. The State Centers in turn support and supervise the operation of Sickle Cell Clubs within their State, thus making for a harmonious coordination of all credible sickle cell organizations in the country.
The Goals of the National Sickle Cell Center are:
- To create and maintain a reference and related data base on sickle cell disorders in Nigeria.
- To deliver counselling services to affected individuals, their parents and other carriers of the sickle cell trait.
-To serve as a reference laboratory center for the accurate diagnosis of sickle cell disorder.
- To offer prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disorder to couples or women at risk of bearing affected offspring.
- To maintain a reference library on sickle cell and related disorder.
- To promote, fund and carry out worthwhile research into various aspects of sickle cell disorder.
- To constantly monitor and periodically, evaluate services provided in pursuance of the aims and objectives of the center.- To offer appropriate educational and training courses to various cadres of health care personnel.
- To liaise with other national and international bodies as may be necessary in pursuance of the aims and objectives of the center.
- To advise the 3 levels of the national health care system on the introduction and co-ordination of services appropriate to the management and control of sickle cell disorder.
The Author's burden on how to alleviate the sufferings of SCD patients and their families will largely be relieved by the formation of Sickle Cell Clubs within towns and cities in Nigeria whose missions will be caring and praying for SCD patients and their families as charity, holistic care and religious bodies.
©OO-I. 2024
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