Founder and Chairman, the Board of Directors of Tonymay Foundation, Sickle Cell Aid, Andrew Otokhina, has called on the government to come up with strong policies to reduce the burden of sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

He lamented that Nigeria still has the highest burden of sickle cell across the globe, as the foundation strives to create a sickle cell-free nation through awareness and policies that would ensure effective management of people living with the disorder.

He noted this yesterday at the Biannual Sickle Cell Summit organised by the foundation held at Gbagada, Lagos, adding that since 2011, the foundation has provided free monthly education and treatment services to over 4,500 people living with Sickle Cell Disorder, including carrying out awareness in communities, universities, schools and public places.

Otokhina noted that the foundation needs strong policies to do more than they are doing, adding that the foundation is a non-profit organisation committed to the care, advocacy and research for people living with Sickle Cell Disorder.

He explained that the foundation was established in 2011 in memory of Anthony and Mary Otokhina, two siblings who died due to complications from the disease.

The founder noted that the organisation provides care tool kits to over 300 people living with the disorder in Kirikiri and Ajegunle communities of Lagos.

He added: “The feedback was so impressive that in 2022, we got a grant from ACT Foundation to replicate the success impact of the ‘Kit a warrior’ project to 500 beneficiaries in five local council areas in Lagos.”