8/3/25
*Open Appeal to His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State, to Curb the Menace of Fake Sickle Cell Treatment Killing Innocent Anambra Citizens*
Mr. Governor,
I want to start by commending you first, on your bold efforts in tackling the menace of fake native doctors in Anambra State. Your administration's clampdown on these individuals, who prey on vulnerable citizens with unrealistic means and fake promises of wealth and quick fixes, is a step in the right direction. Our values of hard work and industriousness especially among our youths must not be eroded with these get-rich-quick syndrome.
I'm the national coordinator of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, a foremost sickle cell community and advocacy group in Anambra State. My appeal is about the growing concerns of impostors and charlatans selling fake sickle cell cures to unsuspecting members of the public. These unscrupulous individuals like one (name withheld) who has his office at opposite Awka South LGA Amawbia, has exposed a lot of sickle cell persons to organ damage, leading to the death of many.
These marchants of death with there unwholesome products, keeps endangering the lives of innocent citizens, particularly children, peddling false hopes, and unproven treatments. It is crucial that your administration takes decisive actions by using the same force used to address fake native doctors to tackle this disturbing issues as well.
During the public hearing for the enactment of the 2019 Sickle Cell Law, the house members and Anambra State clergy men especially Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmos Ebebe of Awka Catholic Diocese with other stakeholders frowned against the menace of quacks selling fake sickle cell cures, and called on the law enforcement to go after such inhuman practices. I made bold moves and arrested Mr Ben Okoh, and got him detained at the state CID, I was shocked when a certificate of clearance was hastily issued to him right inside the police cell from the ministry of health in July 2017 . The then police commissioner was also shocked that after 30 years of Ben Okoh's infamy, he was able to receive an official cover to go on with selling fake sickle cell cure and still operating till this day.
Now that the Anambra State Sickle Cell Law is in place with the new homeland security law which is currently exposing similar criminal elements thriving on vulnerability of our ignorant society to endanger human life, I firmly believe in the rule of law and justice taking it's course against any such individuals exploiting sickle cell persons, exposing them to herbal concoctions which inturn damage their organs and endangers their lives. Every concerned citizen should be properly educated about the dangers of such unproven treatment, and also encouraged to seek medical attention from qualified healthcare professionals.
Some of my members I had lost to Mr Ben Okoh's, and Dr. Muozie (St.Augustine's Hospital Ogbunike) infamous sickle cell treatment includes, Late Ifunanya Rowland and Nkiru Rowland, two siblings from Ekwulobia in Aguata LGA; Late Gabriel Chigbo, from Nri, Anaocha LGA, to mention but a few. Others who sustained organ failures like Miriam Anyaduba, from Ogbunike, Oyi LGA, is currently undergoing rehabilitation in our sickle cell home. The Ejide brothers from Nri Anaocha LGA also discovered that the treatment was all fake after they wasted so much money and they left empty handed with so much disappointment.
Your Excellency may I plead that these fake doctors come to my Sickle Cell Home and put their cure to test and if my suspicion is confirmed, they should be made to face the full wrath of the law and if otherwise they should be genuinely certificated.
I wish to be called upon whenever possible to shed more lights on this menace, and would be happy to provide your administration with insights to save innocent children's from the clutches of Mr. Ben Okoh, Dr. Muozie and his likes.
Your Excellency let me attach the graphic pictures of those who died as a result of this fake herbal medicine doctors and some whom we lost during COVID 19.
Thank you.
Aisha Edwards Maduagwu,
National Coordinator,
APLSCD and
Director,
Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu.