By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Coordinator, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD), Mrs Aisha Edward-Maduagwu has decried recent attempts by some 'political jobbers' to deprive SCD members their rights in Anambra state.
Maduagwu, in an exclusive interview, Monday, alleged that the cabals in the Anambra state ministries of Health and Women and Children Affairs declared war on APLSCD since Senator Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, who is representing Anambra South Senatorial district, chaired opening/inauguration of the Sickle Cell Orphanage Homes at Agulu, Anaocha LGA.
According to Maduagwu, one SA to the commissioner approached her insisting she revoked the invitation extended to senator Ubah as the Chairman of the occasion as that was only condition by which wife of the governor, Chief Ebelechukwu Obiano could attend the programme but she declined.
"They did not know that we have had a good long standing relationship with her excellency which can never be undermined by any person moreover a credible source had told us that the wife of the governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano had delegated the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ndidi Mezue to represent her considering her constant support to APLSCD. So, when they came to lie to me that she would not attend due to Senator Ubah, I told them that would not stop Uba's invitation as Chairman of the occasion regardless of their insensitive advice.
" This was the same way they told me that Obiano's wife would not want the governor to donate a bus to us because we may be using it to campaign for the opposition. As if that was not painful enough, they decided to deprive us opportunity to serve in exact committee that will serve our interest (Anambra State Sickle Cell Monitoring Committee). One Mrs Amaka clearly told us that if the governor eventually donates a bus to us that it shall be parked in her custody.
"A certain commissioner also pleaded with me to nominate another person other than myself that they would not want me to join the committee due to my association with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and other oppositions. My response was that they should write us officially so that we can duly nominate a representative. Of course we have qualified persons. One of us, Queenet Okonkwo who is a known SCD carrier and a Master's Degree holder in Microbiology (which is the best discipline to be included in the committee). We also have other M. Sc. holders in various fields including science and Arts. But instead of her or any one of us, the Commissioner, Dr Vincent Okpala decided to pick two non Sickle cell carriers. The two people they chose to replace us in the committee are not living with Sickle Cell Disorder as stated in the law.
"One of them claimed to be a graduate of Education which is not yet verified, while the other read Economics and of no importance to sickle cell management and sensitization. They are obviously impostors. We suspect they were actually planted into our group by the ministry to weaken and frustrate us. They run NGOs which we have severally used our platform to assist them in gaining ground not knowing that they were planted to exploit and destabilize us. They are witch-hunting us for refusing to disassociate ourselves from Senator ifeanyi Ubah.
" This is why the ministry has refused to establish blood a bank as stipulated by the law. Lack of these blood bank has made us to lose over nine members due to inability to get blood donors. Every day I go online (internet) begging for blood donors which is absurd whereas the law provided for it. How can I disassociate myself from Senator Ubah who sponsored a bill that will bring down the national sickle cell research and treatment center which has pass through the first reading? Meanwhile They have not provide any food to our orphanage homes let alone Medicare. They don't see us as economic importance that is why they don't value us.
Senator Ubah has not only assisted us in various ways, he is currently devoted to the sponsorship of the sickle cell bill at the National Assembly which has successfully passed through the first reading. Through the same bill he has promised to establish a Sickle Cell centre at Aguata under his constituency. These are future benefits that can enhance our lives. So, neither me nor APLSCD members will abandon a man that is after our heart desire.
"We are appealing to the Honourable Speaker, Anambra state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor and his colleagues to come to our rescue. They should help us to make this law genuinely implemented.
Constituting non qualified persons into Sickle Cell Monitoring Committee is illegal and inhuman too"
