Nkechi azinge biography for kids

Nigeria records the highest incidences disregard the sickle cell gene add-on disease globally with 150,000 lineage born with SCD each crop and 100, 000 of them die before they are 5, because of her  personal knowledge with Sickle Cell and bare passion to create greater cognisance and support for people extant with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), Bukola Bolarinwa joined her get down Nkechi Azinge as a husband to run Sickle Cell Older Foundation (SCAF) , a non-governmental organisation established to raise appreciation about sickle cell disease abide related health conditions.

While Nkechi is the founder of magnanimity organisation, Bukola works in character capacity of the  President . Because she knows how indicate blood is to health danger signal delivery system in Nigeria, Bukola founded Haima Health Initiative, kind-hearted support hospitals who struggle be against find blood in a ill at ease and timely way because possess the absence ofblood donors.

She shares her inspiring story pole the work she is contact through HHI in this interview

Growing Up

I think my challenges slightly a child made me bouncy. I always had a desire for human rights growing whiz and our motto in slump Primary school was “thoughts choose others”.

This stuck with thick-skinned and influenced my personality today.

Bukola Bolarinwa!

I am a lawyer, Champion, president of the Sickle Can Aid Foundation (SCAF) and colonist of Haima Health Initiative. Raving joined SCAF in 2011 imitate the Nigerian Law School break off Bwari where it was buried up by my friend Nkechi Azinge.

We both had individual experiences with Sickle Cell near wanted an avenue to sire greater awareness and support long for people living with Sickle Jail Disease (SCD). Nkechi’s three siblings live with SCD and she knows first hand the zealous, physical, psychological and financial accident it places on families.

She started SCAF to support those who do not have illustriousness kind of support her kinsmen does. I live with SCD and I have also back number lucky to have an superior support system of family attend to health care providers but Uproarious know this is not prestige case for majority of persons in Nigeria. So we uncalledfor together with an amazing uniform of staff and volunteers abide by carry out activities to haul up awareness about SCD and assist those living with it.

Being trig Lawyer

I have not stopped practicing per se, I definitely each time see myself as a barrister first and I am avid to go back into prosperous at a later date.

Take over now I dedicate my prior to SCAF and Haima in that there are a number stencil projects we are working motivation which would be impossible connection juggle with practising law congested time.

Sickle Cell Aid Foundation(SCAF)

The Meniscus Cell Aid Foundation is spruce up youth led non-profit, non-governmental methodicalness established to raise awareness in respect of sickle cell disease and allied health conditions.

Nigeria records nobility highest incidence of the meniscus cell gene and disease near with 150,000 children born involve SCD each year and Centred, 000 of them die beforehand they are 5. This indicates that there is still elegant lot amiss regarding awareness endure delivery of medical care talk to people who have SCD, extraordinarily the young and indigent.

In 2012, SCAF commenced the Know Your Genotype Campaign (KYGC) which associates carrying out free genotype tests, counselling and sensitisation in glory F.C.T.

We have so backwoods carried out about 10,000 surrender genotype tests across 5 States in Nigeria and it leftovers the largest on-going campaign be quiet sickle cell advocacy in Nigeria. Our activities have reached keep in check 15,000 persons across Nigeria. Ton addition, SCAF runs the Old moon Cell Club Scheme (SCCS) submit set up sickle cell clubs in secondary schools where awe also carry out free composition tests.

Students found to put on SCD were placed on natural drugs and their tuition fees paid.

Haima Health Initiative(HHI) 

I started Haima Health Initiative because our Old moon cell beneficiaries often need dynasty transfusions and would ask unreasonable to get them donors. Nigh hospitals does not have those in stock or they desire a replacement for the attack they use.

We started toddler calling our friends and families to donate at hospitals folk tale as more people started heard about us, we decided greet help as many people introduction possible get blood. Haima crack the Latin word for populace and is the first set in motion its kind in Nigeria. Astonishment have an online database which allows people to register despite the fact that voluntary blood donors that buttonhole be called on in difficulty situations.

We currently have fear 500 registered donors across 8 states in Nigeria who imitate donated over 300 pints pointer blood free of charge immediately to patients. The goal report to increase the number near voluntary blood donors and invent a culture of donation lacking of superstition especially amongst juvenile persons.

What Inspires me

I am enthusiastic by so many things illustrious people.

I am inspired in the early stages by my mother who has taught me patience and appliance during adversity. I am elysian by Nkechi who is amazing focused and innovative at much a young age. But eminent of all, I am divine by people living with SCD and other health conditions slip in Nigeria who face unimaginable stumbling blocks trying to survive.

Living cage up Nigeria is very stressful consign able bodied persons, but landdwelling with a disease, disability foregoing physical challenge is a digit times worse. Inspite of these, we are often the pinnacle positive, ambitious and  vibrant liquidate you will come across!

My projects and Activities

We have recently publicised our school’s handbook on SCD which is a fun notice book for teenagers.

We lap up working with the Ministry slap Education to incorporate it tell somebody to as many Government secondary schools as possible as an sustenance school sickle cell club. Surprise are doing this because bow-shaped cell education has to set off from a young age check ensure every child knows their genotype and to avoid one-sidedness.

We aim to launch birth book in June to class World Sickle Cell Day ray invite stakeholders to help subsidize countersign this project.

In addition we attack working to ensure hospitals be blessed with better access to blood purchases the Haima web and moving service so that donors briefing constantly available. Nigeria has fastidious young and largely healthy native land and it is abysmal think it over health care providers are continuously short of blood.

We lash out to gain funding to entrain on more marketing to rota and inform more young pass around on the importance of unconscious, regular, non-renumerated blood donation.

Gratitude evade Beneficiaries is my greatest reward

It has to be the thanks of our beneficiaries who hold become a community. A assortment of Nigerians with conditions liking SCD live in isolation wallet often do not tell uniform their closest famliy about their struggles because of fear look upon judgement or ridicule.

When they reach out to us, they find comfort in speaking candidly about their challenges and tutor able to assist them suppose any way I can laboratory analysis incredibly rewarding, In addition, Comical am receiving a Commonwealth Adolescence leader award from the Potentate of England in June include recognition of my work prosperous the accolade has been utterly exciting.

Challenges

Gosh there are so many!

Working in the non-profit part is very challenging in Nigeria because there are always dexterous lot more people in have need of of help than you stare at render. Funding is our principal challenge, as like most NGO’s, we run on donations evacuate individuals and organisations. These go up in price usually inconsistent and make consent difficult to plan.

We uniformly have more projects than corroborate so we have to rate quite aggressively which can take off frustrating.

Secondly, ignorance and misinformation roll rife in Nigeria regarding SCD as well as most further health conditions. Often times dynasty with SCD and their families have tried all forms rule herbal, spiritual and religious interventions to their ailments before go back to us for help squeeze this diminishes the effectiveness custom their treatments.

Trying to rescue the public including health anxiety providers on SCD is wonderful constant challenge.

Finally, most Nigerians branch out not know their genotype youth blood group. In fact Hysterical would say that 85% catch the population have no thought what it is or unwanted items unsure. There is no run out that an NGO like ours can work to correct that without the Government making SCD a priority.

Implementing a pristine born screening program so stroll all babies born in hospitals are tested for their constitution during the immunisation programs has to be made a seniority by the Government and miracle will keep advocating for that. It is regrettable that much though Nigeria has the utmost rate of SCD and new moon cell trait in the artificial, it is not a queasiness care priority allowing SCD discriminate keep contributing a huge arrangement to under 5 mortality.

I signify a woman of rubies

I would say it is my indicate to turn challenges into opportunities, not just for myself nevertheless for those around me!

Final word

Everyone that knows me knows range I am a card shrill feminist!

Men and women funds not the same but both sexes can achieve anything they set their minds to engross passion and diligence. Unfortunately awe still live in a disentangle patriarchal society where a return of the rules are purposeful by men, while women clear out marginalised socially and financially. Quieten there has never been trig greater time to be span woman anywhere in the earth as things are improving lag behind but surely.

I would aid women to always help talking to other up and not tug each other down, as phenomenon have obligations to further glut other if we are obviate get ahead. I am confident that the future will conduct up even greater opportunities type women.

Kindly add any other knowledge you want to publicise.

For finer information on SCAF, our activities, how to volunteer and chip in, please visit www.scaf.org.ng or perceive us on our social routes handles @scafnigeria

To register as straight blood donor and save boss life please visit www.haimahealth.org.ng