United Kingdom-based TunMicro Sickle Cell Foundation (TSF) in collaboration with the Abeokuta Descendant Union, Nigeria (ADUN) has reached out to about 2000 senior secondary school students of the Reverend Kuti Memorial Grammar School in Isabo, Abeokuta of Ogun state.
The one-week-long exercise which commenced on Monday 4 and ended on Friday 8 March in the school premises also had a great number of prominent personalities present to grace the outreach.
The blood samples of the beneficiaries were taken and tested to detect their different genotypes. The test results were accurate with medical proof and the students testified to the genuineness of their test results.
They were all given comprehensive awareness on how to prevent and manage the genotype crises when the need arises.
Speaking on the outreach movement, Dr. Ismaila Olatunji Sule, Founder and CEO of TSF said the choice of taking the outreach to the school was made on the grounds of its historical prominence and relevance.
He said, “I am a member of the Abeokuta Descendants Union and we have a member of this group who is an old student of this school, so he solicited for TunMicro service to be rendered to students of the school.
This decision was also taken following the historical name and prominence of the school in Abeokuta.
We once had the exercise at Orile Keesi Grammar School at Olodo in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State and now we are having it here within three years.
So far in the exercise, there has been rapid progress despite the initial challenges that we encountered on our arrival at the school.”
Speaking on the TSF initiative, Dr. Ismaila said, “TunMicro is a combination of both my name and my specialization, microbiology. I was born in a sickle cell crisis-ridden family, so I thought it wise to give back to society through my professional skill by bringing an end to a situation I seem to have been a victim of.
“Aside from whatever it is that we do here, we create awareness about the sickle cell crisis, to get the people informed about the dangers of the health crisis. In the future, I intend to set up a free sickle cell medical service center where patients would be rendered solution services to their sickle cell crisis.
“We are also looking at a plan to create a database archive about the sickle cell crisis, which the government, students, and other relevant health bodies can refer to for research works in the health sector.”
Sule however said that with the method of orientation and the feedback TunMicro has received from the students so far, it is convincing that they comprehended and acquired the required knowledge about sickle cell, noting that the organization made it easier for the students by disseminating the information to them in their native language.
Mrs. Alice Olubunmi Bajela Odunlami, Chairlady, ADUN in her comment, said, “ADUN is collaborating with TunMicro so that we can ride on that platform to make the sickle cell awareness service available to our children, to guide them against recurrence of such crises in the future. The turnout, responses, and impacts of the exercise on the beneficiary students have been greatly effective.
“We are looking forward to partnering with TunMicro to take their humanitarian service to other schools or institutions in Abeokuta.
At least, I can even testify that I as a person have acquired very significant knowledge about the sickle cell crises.”
Alhaji Babatunde Ogunwolu, National President, ADUN, who expressed his gesture at the development, said, “We have our members in London who deemed it fit to impact the young people back home, so we decided to collaborate with TunMicro to help give them an orientation to avoid future crises, and the impact of this initiative has been very impactful.
We also look forward to collaborating with TunMicro in the future to extend the service to other schools and communities in Abeokuta.”
ADUN was formed in 1967 at Ebute-meta, Lagos to foster unity amongst the Abeokuta descendants who reside in any location around the world.
Principal of the senior secondary school, Mrs. Mary Oluwapemi Ogunniran described the initiative as a good orientation program that is needed by the students, noting that they wouldn’t t have been able to access the opportunity of checking on their genotype.
“We appreciate TunMicro and I urge them to keep the ball rolling so that their plans can be actualized. They should also look for a means of going further to assist the sickle cell patients in managing their health situation,” the principal said.
Mr. Ayoola Olajide, publisher of Sickle Cell news publication and President, of Ikorodu Sickle Cell Club, who shared a bit of his experience as a sickle cell patient, also gave a testimony of how he has been able to weather the storms of the crises till his present age of above 60 years old.
He encouraged the students not to give up on themselves no matter the negative result they have about their genotype.
