The Oladipupo Foundation for Sickle Cell has appealed to the federal government to subsidise the cost of the stem cell transplant procedure for patients suffering from the disease.
The Founder of the Foundation, Mr Dotun Oladipupo, made the appeal on Friday, during a sensitisation walk to mark the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day, in Abeokuta.
Oladipupo, a Mass Communication Lecturer at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, noted that the effort would make patients to have access to a quality life.
He explained that many families of people living with sickle cell cannot afford the procedure which he described as a wonderful scientific innovation and discovery.
“Stem cell transplant can help people living with sickle cell disorder to live an improved and healthy lifestyle. I therefore appeal for special government intervention to make the procedure available at affordable cost to an average family in the country.
“Also, the government needs to subsidize drugs and make medical care more accessible and affordable to these people, particularly the new interventions that are quite expensive. So, if the government can partner with the donor agencies to make those treatments affordable, it will ameliorate the financial burden on parents or guardians of people living with sickle cell disorder.
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“In corollary to that, equal opportunities in terms of employment, must be given to the people living with sickle cell disorder across government and private institutions in the country”, Oladipupo said.
Oladipupo added that the government should also partner with donor agencies to make new interventions in the medication for sickle cell more affordable and accessible.
He explained that the awareness walk was organised to serve as a symbol and to call the attention of the world, the government and corporate organisations to the plights of the people living with sickle cell disorder.
“The walk is also to let them (people living with sickle cell disorder) know that they are not alone; that the whole world is with them. And that today is another day for them to hope, even if it is hoping against hope that they can live their life to the fullest”, he stated.
Oladipupo, however, charged parents, guardians and caregivers of “warriors” to stick with them and give them all the support they needed, declaring that “sickle cell disorder is not a death sentence”.
Photo caption: The Founder of Oladipupo Foundation for Sickle Cell, Dotun Oladipupo (third left) with the Medical Director , State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Dr Osinaike and Mrs Taiwo of Nursing services, during the Foundation visit to sickle cell clinic
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