Determined to tackle the high incidence of sickle cell disorder in Nigeria, Dufil Prima Foods plc, maker of Indomie Instant Noodles, has donated cash and cartons of Indomie Instant Noodles to the Nigerian Sickle Cell Foundation.
Making the donation on behalf of the company at the National Sickle Cell Centre, Idi Araba, Lagos, the public relations manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Tope Ashiwaju, says Dufil as a responsible corporate entity has a history of contributing to the development of good health delivery in Nigeria, and thus touching many lives in many different ways.
Tope explains that the dearth in the funding of the health sector, especially in the area of research and provision of drugs and equipment, was the rationale behind the company’s donation to the foundation.
According to him, “Sickle Cell is a very complex condition and requires huge amount of funds and research if there is any progress to be made in improving the lives of those living with this condition. Dufil Prima Foods saw the need to contribute its quota to ensuring people living with this health condition have access to quality healthcare so as to reduce the number of patients that die annually from this ailment.”
He says that Dufil’s intervention became imperative because of the enormous financial implication involved in managing the disease, which can put the average or poor individual who cannot afford it at a disadvantage.
The chairman of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Olu Akinyanju, who was present at the donation, thanked the management of the company for the kind gesture.
According to him, the Sickle Cell Centre was set up to address all issues relating to Sickle Cell Anemia, while adding that Dufil’s donation will go a long way in achieving the foundation’s goals.
Available statistics show that over 80 percent of children with sickle cell anemia are born in Africa, he says, pointing out that Nigeria, by virtue of its large population, is recording the highest number of births of affected children.
He however expresses optimism that access to affordable treatment would reduce the crisis experienced by children in the early phase of their lives.
Akinyanju therefore calls on individuals and corporate bodies to emulate Dufil by supporting the activities of the centre.
Ayo Otaigbe, director of the Foundation also thanked Dufil for its contribution to the foundation, stressing that Sickle Cell Anemia is a huge burden that requires a lot of support and that Dufil’s donation would go a long way in solving some of the needs of the Foundation.
Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder that affects the haemoglobin within the red blood cells. The recurrent pain and complications caused by the disease can interfere with many aspects of the patient’s life, including education, employment and psychosocial development.
Sickle cell disorder is by far the commonest inherited disorder in the world and three quarters of cases occur in Africa. In Nigeria, where it affects two out of every hundred children born, it causes suffering for innumerable patients and their families
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