The Sickle Cell Aid Foundation’ (SCAF) is a youth led Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that was established in 2010 to raise awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) and ensure that the less privileged with SCD have access to quality healthcare.
As a team, SCAF has worked tirelessly since 2010. We have embarked on various projects, amongst with are:
The Know Your Genotype Campaign (KYGC)
The Sickle Cell Club Scheme (SCCS)
The Warm Clothes Drive
The Blood Drive
The Drugs Drive
The Show Your Genotype Campaign (A social media campaign)
Red Movement Scholarship Fund
All the aforementioned SCAF activities have resulted in an increased awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder as an additional 7% of the Abuja population from 2012 – 2014 now have substantial knowledge on SCD and an additional 5% have tested to know their genotype. More importantly, SCAF has established sickle cell clubs in over 30 schools across the various area councils in Abuja, Nigeria, reaching over 5000 children with a curriculum prepared to guide their activities. These clubs empower students to impact on their immediate community. As a result of these projects, more people now have access to free drugs, free medical care and warm clothes; students with SCD from indigent homes are also placed on a scholarship.
In all this, SCAF has brought optimism to a society which lacks the ability to tackle health challenges efficiently as out of 150, 000 children born with this disorder each year, a 100,000 of them do not live past 5 years as a result of persistent strike and inadequate expertise and facilities.
The 2014 statistics of the Sickle Cell Aid Foundation shows that 20% of the Abuja populations are still not aware of Sickle Cell Disorder or its complications and 42% have not been tested to know their genotype. Knowing the implications of this, we at SCAF want this to change. However, We are not looking for change; we are looking for an end. The whole point of our projects is to break the sickle cycle. For persons to have adequate knowledge and make informed decisions as regards their off springs and more importantly, to ensure that they have access to adequate healthcare. This we believe would have a spiral effect of altering the stigma and discrimination associated with sickle cell disorder.
We have recently commenced the first ever-online blood registration drive in Nigeria which enables people from the 36 states to register to donate blood to sickle cell patients and other patients in need. The amazing thing about this project is that you can indicate interest to donate from any part of Nigeria thus helping a wider reach of people. . Furthermore you can also sign up to volunteer or intern with us.
For these, SCAF has received recognition from the Future Awards, the Nelson Mandela initiative (previously YALI), the Queens Young Leaders, The African Achievers Awards.
For further information, visit our website: www.scaf.org.ng or follow us on social media for updates;
Twitter: @scaf_nigeria
Instagram: SCAFnigeria
Join the SCAF Team