BENIN CITY – Edo State Government last Friday joined all others over the world to commemorate the 2015 World Sickle Cell Day with the theme “Sickle Cell Disorder: Life Saving Measures” assuring that it will equip the Sickle Cell Centre in Benin City.
In her message to mark the celebration, Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs) Aihanuwa Eregie said that the day is set aside yearly to create   awareness and reengineer activities geared towards prevention through genetic counselling, effective management, control and eradication of Sickle Cell Disease.
According to her, Sickle Cell disease is an inherited disorder of the blood passed to affected persons by both Parents, adding that individuals with Sickle Cell traits are relatively resistant to the lethal effect of Folciparum Malaria in early childhood.
Dr. Eregie explained that Edo State Government is poised to sustain the gains so far achieved in the management of Sickle Cell disease by ensuring that affected persons enjoy good quality of life through adequate funding and equipping the Sickle Cell Centre as well as making their routine drugs readily available.
She further stated that to ensure that blood is readily available in our blood bank, the Ministry has commenced advocacy in favour of voluntary blood donation by Edo State Citizens, pointing out that the gesture will go a long way in assisting those who require large quantity of blood for exchange during blood transfusion.
The Health Commissioner urged all to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the 2015 World Sickle Cell Day to access the health facilities provided by the State for genetic counselling, Laboratory diagnosis and prompt attention and management of Sickle Cell Disease, thereby save Lives of Edo people.
As part of the activities to mark the Celebration, the State Ministry of Health had earlier undertook an advocacy/ enlightenment campaign to three schools in Benin City, namely Imaguero College, Eghosa Anglican Grammar School and St. Mary Girls Secondary School.
Speaking during the event, the Administrative Secretary, Sickle Cell Centre, Mr. Emmanuel Imasekhonwan said that the enlightenment campaign was to create awareness among the students on the best way to avoid Sickle Cell Disease as he enjoined the young ones to endeavour to know their genotype before going into marriage.
The Ceremony also featured Lectures by Medical experts titled “The role of Blood Transfusion in the Management of Sickle Cell Anaemia” by Dr. (Mrs) Augustina Ikusemoro, Consultant, Haematologist, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, and “The Importance of Voluntary Blood Donation” by Dr. Suleiman Ozemoka of the department of Family Medicine, Central Hospital, Benin City.