Sickle cell: LG Staff hails Ekiti govt, NGO over daughter’s free medical services

A middle-aged man identified as Kunle Adebayo has commended the Ekiti state government and the Olanipekun Ayomide (O.A) Initiative for the free medical services for his 17-year-old sickle cell warrior.

The O.A Initiative is a non-profit organization that facilitates free medical care to people with sickle cell disease in Ekiti State and Nigeria through the Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme (EKHIS).

Adebayo, a staff of the Local Government Service Commission, explained that the intervention of the initiative and the government has helped in no small measure in attending to his son, Adedeji Adebayo.

The father who described sickle cell as a rampant disease in Africa and the country called on parents in the state to take advantage of the platform provided and enroll their children for the services.

He commended the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for his benevolent gesture in approving a sum of N2 million for his daughter’s surgery, who was diagnosed with a brain disorder at ABUAD Hospital.

According to him, the timely gesture of the governor was crucial in saving the life of her daughter Oluwadarasimi during the surgery.

He commended the state commissioner for Health and services, Dr Oyebanji Filani for his support in facilitating the governor’s gesture.

He said, “Let me say that with what Ekiti state government has done for my daughter, I am more convinced of the healthcare services in the state.

“The OA initiative under the leadership of Dr Ayomide Olanipekun and members of the team have done credibly well and they should be encouraged and supported. I have a warrior being managed by them free of charge.

“My advice for parents who have sickle cell children at home is to take advantage of the platform provided by the initiative and Ekiti State Health Insurance Scheme (EKHIS) to register for free treatment in the state. Don’t forget sickle cell is hard to manage, and I have been battling with it for over 15 years.

“But for the past one year since I met them (OA Initiative), it has been a wonderful experience and I will urge people to take advantage of this opportunity provided by the initiative with support from the state government. 

“The Ekiti state government under governor Biodun Oyebanji will continue to ring in my family because they supported me in various ways, especially the N2 million I received for my daughter’s surgery.”

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