A humanitarian organisation, Seyifara Foundation, in partnership with the Oyo State Government, has urged Nigerians to take the fight against Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) more seriously and end the stigmatisation of people living with the condition.

The call was made during activities marking the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day, where stakeholders also advocated stronger legislation at both the federal and state levels to promote awareness, encourage genotype screening, discourage marriages between genetically incompatible partners, and involve religious institutions in sustained public enlightenment campaigns.

Speaking at the event, the Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said the government remains committed to reducing the burden of SCD through continuous advocacy and strategic partnerships.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Oke-Ogun Zone I, Dr Akinfemi Akinyode, the commissioner said the state government has maintained its collaboration with Seyifara Foundation to educate schoolchildren, parents and communities about the disease while providing support for affected persons.

She called on other non-governmental organisations and community groups to join the campaign to curb the prevalence of the disorder.

Founder of Seyifara Foundation, Oluwaseyi Adediran, described SCD as an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells, causing severe pain crises and chronic anaemia. He stressed that the disease is not contagious and occurs only when a child inherits abnormal haemoglobin genes from both parents.

According to him, increased awareness and premarital genotype screening remain critical to reducing new cases of the disease.

Adediran urged religious bodies to support advocacy efforts by educating intending couples on the importance of knowing their genotype compatibility before marriage.

He explained that the foundation’s annual partnership with the state government is aimed at increasing awareness, reducing stigma and advocating improved access to healthcare services for persons living with SCD.

Speaking on the 2026 theme, “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease,” Adediran noted that Sub-Saharan Africa bears between 66 and 80 per cent of the global SCD burden but receives disproportionately fewer healthcare resources.

He said Nigeria records about 150,000 SCD births annually and has more than 40 million carriers, making it the country with the highest burden of the disease globally.