SENSITIZATION AT GOVERNMENT DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL ADANKOLO LOKOJA
KOGI STATE.
As part
of foosteer initiative commitment to community health and social development,
it partnered with Total Child Care Initiative (TCCI) with support from SAMVIC
trust fund to sensitize secondary schools in Lokoja community and environs
about sickle cell disease, intimating participants about the benefits of
knowing their genotype, signs and symptoms of sickle cell, how to support
persons with sickle cell among others.
It is estimated that a total number of 3.7million persons have died from
sickle cell, and a total number of 1.8millons are currently living and battling
with this disease, hence the need to sensitize the populace to forestall
further occurrences. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited form of anemia — a
condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry
adequate oxygen throughout the body.
According to Patrick, the brain
behind SAMVIC trust fund who shared part of his story during one of the
secondary school outreach held in Lokoja recently, “he was wrongly diagnosed by
several hospitals (including two teaching hospitals in Nigeria,) to be AS (carrier)
for several years despite his sickly nature while in secondary school boarding
house and had to relocate closer home, this wrong diagnosis made him to be
placed on wrong maintenance for a long time, until he lost one of his younger
brother who was also diagnosed as a carrier then this became a thing of
surprise why will a carrier die? ,....After the death of his brother, it took
the timely intervention of God using one of his Uncle, Who took the whole
family to Prof Charles Wanbebe research institute at Abuja to confirm the
status of the family, and they later realize that he was a sickle cell patient.
Sickle Disorder gave him so much
pain and delayed all my academic pursuit but he never gave up...he thought it
was over, until i gained admission to the University for his Bachelor degree in
2005 then after few semesters in the University, he was rushed to Lokoja
medical centre which was the end of his career pursuit at the university. He was
bedridden for two years in pains, God saw him through but he lost his both
kneel after an operation which was not properly managed. He thought this was
over until recently he lost another brother who was very close to him as a
result of Sickle Cell, Today God has helped him and blessed, despite his
ordeals, he is now married with kids, and has decided to say a enough is enough
to sickle disease by thinking of ways to end this disorder, by collaborating
with other existing organization and medical practitioners...
Normally, the red blood cells are flexible and round, moving easily through the
blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells become rigid and
sticky and are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These irregularly shaped
cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow
and oxygen to parts of the body.There's no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia. But treatments can relieve pain and help prevent problems associated with the disease.
SAMVIC
Trust fund is an initiative brought to bare by ---------------- who is a sickle
cell patient, who until recently lost his two limbs in 2005 at his second year
in the university as a result of wrong diagnoses of his genotype and also lost
two siblings to sickle cell.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of sickle cell
anemia, which vary from person to person and change over time, include:
- Anemia. Sickle cells break apart easily and die, leaving one without enough red blood cells. Red blood cells usually live for about 120 days before they need to be replaced. But sickle cells usually die in 10 to 20 days, leaving a shortage of red blood cells (anemia).
Without
enough red blood cells, the body can't get the oxygen it needs to feel
energized, causing fatigue.
- Episodes of pain. Periodic episodes of pain, called crises, are a major symptom of sickle cell anemia. Pain develops when sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through tiny blood vessels to your chest, abdomen and joints. Pain can also occur in the bones.
The pain
varies in intensity and can last for a few hours to a few weeks. Some people
have only a few pain episodes. Others have a dozen or more crises a year. If a
crisis is severe enough, you might need to be hospitalized.
Some
adolescents and adults with sickle cell anemia also have chronic pain, which
can result from bone and joint damage, ulcers and other causes.
- Painful swelling of hands and feet. The swelling is caused by sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking blood flow to the hands and feet.
- Frequent infections. Sickle cells can damage an organ that fights infection (spleen), leaving you more vulnerable to infections. Doctors commonly give infants and children with sickle cell anemia vaccinations and antibiotics to prevent potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia.
- Delayed growth. Red blood cells provide your body with the oxygen and nutrients you need for growth. A shortage of healthy red blood cells can slow growth in infants and children and delay puberty in teenagers.
- Vision problems. Tiny blood vessels that supply your eyes may become plugged with sickle cells. This can damage the retina — the portion of the eye that processes visual images, leading to vision problems. PHOTO GALLERY
School principal 5th from right, next is the convener SAMVIC Trust fund, next PM TCCI, and FI staff 
Dr. Sam sensitizing student of Govt day secondary school Adankolo lokoja 
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