The CEO of Sickle Cell Careers Awareness Network (SCCAN) in Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Evelyn Nyandemo has brought hope for all Sickle Cell patients in Sierra Leone Mrs. Nyandemo formed the organization in Kono in 2008 to address the well being of Sickle Cell patients in that part of the country.
She is planning to give the SCCAN programme a national flavor by initiating a nationwide screening programme and provide valuable research into this terrible neglected, painful and debilitating disease.
This press caught up with Mrs. Nyandemo at the Adullam Mission primary school in the Wellington community where she was sensitizing school pupils on Sickle Cell disease and how they should take care of themselves. In her awareness raising campaign to the pupils, Mrs. Nyandemo expressed her determination to save children in Sierra Leone from early death as a result of Sickle Cell. She noted that the disease is as devastating as malaria and HIV/AIDS but government is not paying attention to help those that are suffering from it. She advised that people with Sickle Cell should drink water on a regular basis and ensure that their bodies are not exposed to cold. The SCCAN campaigner also advised the teachers to be observant and give maximum encouragement to pupils that are always sickly, dull and quiet in school as they may be possible Sickle Cell patients. Mrs. Nyandemo visited the Head office of the Sierra Leone Sickle Cell society where she met with staff of the centre who led her in a conducted tour of the offices to see the facilities available for patients.
She also visited the laboratory where patients are screened and diagnosed to determine the type of trait they might be carrying. She is planning to partner with the Sickle Cell society of Sierra Leone and the screening centre in order to target large number of people living with Sickle Cell.
At present the SCCAN programme is taking care of close to 200 Sickle Cell patients in the Kono district. She disclosed to this press that the SCCAN programme is currently providing feeding and medication for those affected by the disease in Kono.
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