Former vice-presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has celebrated the 2020 World Sickle Cell Day with the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) in Nigeria by donating relief materials to them.
Mr Obi, who called for more awareness of the sickle cell scourge in the society, stated that it is a preventable pain that can be avoided if people are well informed about the sickness.
Describing those living with the disorder as needing love and care, Obi said they must never be stigmatised or discriminated against, but given better opportunities to succeed in life.
In appreciation, the National Coordinator of APLSCD, Aisha Mmaduagwu, said Obi had always related to APLSCD as a family and had never failed to identify with them whenever they needed his help.
She said: “We will always remember what His Excellency has done for us here today. His out-reach to us, at a time like this, is like a therapy to us. The foodstuffs he has brought to us today are worth more to us than drugs. Some of us who are dependent on blood transfusion to survive no longer get blood donors. We now depend on good spirited Nigerians like Mr. Peter Obi to donate food stuffs to us so that we can feed well and generate enough blood to be alive and healthy.
“APLSCD is eternally grateful to Mr Peter Obi. Reaching out to people in need seems like an apostolate to him. We can’t thank him enough.”
Obi was represented at the presentation by a team of delegates headed by former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof Stella Okunna.
Other members of the team were the former Commissioner for Housing in Anambra State, Patrick Obi; former Commissioner for Information, Anambra, Joe Dike, and Special Adviser to Peter Obi, Valentine Obienyem.
