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The wife of Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa has called on well meaning Nigerians not o leave the fight against Sickle Cell disorder to parents, care givers and sufferers alone.

Dame Okowa who is founder of the 05 Initiative made the call at the commissioning of the sickle cell clinic at the Central Hospital, Warri on Friday, July 30, 2021.

She said: “Finally, ladies and gentlemen, the fight against Sickle Cell disorder should not be left to parents, Care givers and Sufferers alone. We owe them love and support at all times. You may say you do not have enough but there is something you can give; your smile and encouragement will make life worth living for the warriors. As we join our hands together for the good of society, we can Change our world, one person at a time.”

Expressing her joy and a high sense of fulfillment and gratitude to God for the vision and providing the resources to carry out the plans and missions of the O5 Initiative to visit the sick has again found expression, she said it was indeed, a privilege to establish the 16th Sickle Cell Clinic in Warri.

Pointing that this is a dream come true, dame Edith Okowa said: “In these six years, the Sickle Cell Clinics in Agbor, Ughelli, Oleh, Sapele, Kwale, Koko, Eku, Patani, Otu Jeremi, Orereokpe, Iseleuku, Umunede and Ogwashi Uku, Akwukwu-Igbo, Ibusa (Okwe upgraded ) have in no small way impacted our warriors and afforded them easy access to healthcare.

“ Additionally, the Delta State Sickle Cell Referral Centre Asaba which is the third largest in the Country has been of immense benefit to our warriors. We recently added the Variant Newborn Screening machine used for the determination of the genotype of newborn babies.

“We are not resting on our oars, God being our helper with the co-operation of Deltans, we will establish more clinics in the remaining Local government areas of the state.”

Dame Okowa expressed appreciation to the people of Warri South Local Government Area for their contributions towards the actualization of this project, andpray that the Lord will reward them in Jesus name.

“I am confident that healing will come speedily as the facility is put to use, it will to a large extent alleviate the sufferings of our warriors,” said.