Sickle cell patients reject committee inaugurated to implement Anambra law

Some sickle cell anemia carriers under the auspices of Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) have rejected the monitoring committee setup to implement the Anambra 2019 sickle cell law, describing it as a kangaroo. 

The law, Blueprint earnt, empowered the committee to among other things setup a taskforce whose responsibilities should include ensuring that all potential couples undergo screening to ascertain their genetic compatibility before proceeding for marriage traditionally, in court or church. 

APLSCD, in a media interaction at Sickle Cell Home in Agulu, Anaocha LGA of Anambra, argued that their member was not duly represented in the committee as specified by the law, adding that investigations showed that some of the members of the committee led by the state commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala were unqualified.    Mrs Aisha Edward-Maduagwu, the national coordinator of APLSCD lamented that “The sickle cell monitoring committee which is the engine block was inaugurated last week after we wrote series of letters to the Commissioner for Health to setup the committee. Unfortunately, what the commissioner setup is what I call kangaroo committee because it was not properly constituted.


” Members of the committee as specified by the law are; a representative of the association of people living with sickle cell, a haematologist, a psychiatrist, a chemical pathologist, a paediatrician, a clergy man, a member of medical laboratory of Nigeria. “Others are a member of pharmaceutical society of Nigeria, a staff of the state ministry of health, a legal practitioner and a representative of Anambra state Association of Town Union (ASATU). The Commissioner did not write to request a nominee from us as required by the law.


” He did not inform us when the inauguration was to take place. My members and I have championing this course since six years ago. He even acknowledged in his speech at the event which has gone viral that I am the architect of sickle cell law in Anambra state. 

“This is the same ministry or government we have been working with to get this passed and assented to. So, what has gone wrong? No one among the committee members he inaugurated is a sickle cell carrier. Does it not contravene the law? How would people without the genetic condition know what we are passing through? ASPLSCD has many qualified people including those with M. Sc. in Microbiology to function effectively in the committee.”


On what she suspected to have led to non inclusion of APLSCD, Mrs Maduagwu said it was political jobbers trying to hide some things from them and those envious of the association’s achievements through the assistants of philanthropists, religious and political benefactors like Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo and others.


Contributing, the ASPLSCD coordinators, Okonkwo Queenet (General coordinator), Ebele Ezeobi (Aguata zone), Janet Idaboh (Onitsha zone), Njideka Ikeagu (Awka zone), and Charity Augustine (Nnewi zone), implored governor Willie Obiano to dissolve the committee and reconstitute fresh one with their coordinator (Mrs Maduagwu) as member for effective actualization of the law.


The coordinators equally commended the National Coordinator for standing firmly on the course to eradicate sickle cell anaemia on earth, especially for the monthly healthcare exercise being organised to screen and acquaint them with their health status and survival techniques.

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