A New York City, United States [US]-based public health expert, Clotilde Monguya; a group, Chrisbo HB Champions’ Club, Ibadan; a nurse, Adedayo Ayeni and a public policy advocate, Rev.Niyi Dahunsi,Thursday, warned against discrimination and stigmatisation of Sickle Cell patients.
They made the call during the 2025 World Sickle Cell Day organised by Chrisbo HB Champions’ Club in collaboration with Africa Investment Consulting which was held at Akobo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The programme featured the distribution of hand bands, awareness campaigns, awards, games, blood donation, and others.
Monguya said it was imperative to make life better, productive and meaningful for Sickle Cell patients. She added that they needed to be catered for.
She said: ‘’ A lot of diseases carry the same, the sickle cell affects not only the patient, but affects the family, the mother, the community. And it’s due to a lot of factors, this is multi-factorial.
‘’Also most importantly, it is important to educate our policy makers about the plan of the disease, and also to have the policy maker in that policy. That puts the patient in the centre, and that respects the situation. In other ways, the stigmatisation should stop’’.
On his part, Mr Adegoke Akinloye , the Secretary of the Champions’ Club, representing Dr Bose Ola, who is the Chairman and the founder of the Champions Club, also warned against discrimination and stigmatisation.
He said: ”Today we are marking World Sickle Cell Day and we want to advocate for our patients. We also want to make public note of some of the things that our Sickle Cell patients need and want also to campaign against discrimination and stigmatisation. They are champions. So that’s why we are here today”.
A Nurse, Ayeni who spoke on HIV and other health-related issues, called on the government to support Sickle Cell patients financially and put them into consideration in policy-making, as regards their health.
In his remarks, Rev Niyi Dahunsi said the programme was to raise voices for millions affected by a condition that often goes unseen and misunderstood — Sickle Cell Disease.
He said: “Sickle Cell Disease, or SCD, is a genetic blood disorder that distorts red blood cells into a sickle shape, making it hard for them to carry oxygen through the body. This causes intense pain, organ damage, strokes, infections, and for many, an exhausting cycle of hospital visits and uncertainty. It affects millions worldwide — especially in Africa, the Middle East, India, and among people of African descent in the diaspora.
“The theme of this year’s World Sickle Cell Day — Breaking Barriers, Building Hope, Enhancing Lives — isn’t just a slogan. It’s a mission.
“Breaking barriers means challenging the silence, the stigma, and the systemic neglect that sickle cell warriors face daily. Too often, patients are misdiagnosed, dismissed, or denied care because of where they live or how they look. In some communities, children are still lost due to lack of early screening or basic treatment. These are not just medical failures — they are moral ones. And it’s time we break through.
‘’We break barriers when we educate our communities, when we demand access to affordable care, when we call out myths and replace them with truth. Every time a patient speaks up and is believed, a barrier falls. Building hope is about more than comfort — it’s about progress’’.
