Someone told me that running a foundation isn't for the faint hearted but one that can move with or without any encouragement.
Specially a sickle cell foundation for that matter. People usually ask me why sickle cell foundation why not something else then I ask why not sickle cell foundation there's so much people don't know about sickle cell trait and some information they are ignorant about. Not knowing is not an excuse
Information is power with this understanding we set out educate schools. We had to decide our target audience and we settled for senior secondary schools.
Pictures with some schools students
Knowing our target audience we now had to map out names of schools and write them of our intentions to come and educate their senior secondary school about sickle cell trait and also give an opportunity for any student that doesn't know their genotypes and blood group. We keep them informed about our community out reach dates and venues so they come and run both test for free.
Some schools received us with Joy while some will just say aren't free to receive us. Which we understood and didn't push them any further.
I'm sure you too want to know exactly why we decided to push the sickle cell foundation. Well I have lost 3 siblings to it the last was my best friend room mate and my babyboy his death was so overwhelming for me as I was with him in the hospital till he passed.
Growing up for me I had constantly seen my younger brother go through different kind of health issues. This minute his fine the next his crying and in serious pain nothing you do to help him get relief from that pain works. Unless his rushed to the hospital. This continued as he grew up,though this didn't stop him from living or relating with people. He was the fun of parties and a very joyful fellow
Joshua Young Oghenekome
You will only know his SS because of his eye balls aside from this you won't know.
He kept himself lively and was very dedicated to every one around. Let me stop here before I get carried away emotionally.
So we do this because there are still children out there that are suffering from this traits and there's little
or nothing being done for them.
We had to go the Nigerian sickle cell foundation to get an understanding with them so if we need to send people to them they get to pay a discounted fee which the foundation takes care of on their behalf.
We also get products for free for such and ensure they take it regularly. We are grateful for the opportunity to touch lives in this way it hasn't been easy getting funds to run the foundation. It's been a bumpy ride but God has been faithful with us.
We initially started with tasking members with dues payment but we had to stop it as many couldn't continue. Some had work challenges and we couldn't keep tasking them in such situations. Then we started reaching out to friends and family for assistance or donation and we get some good response which has helped us get this results this past years because to us every life Matters 🙏
WOW 😲! This is awesome. You are really doing a great job my dear. Keep it up