My Son’s Death Inspired Me To Help Over 5,000 Sickle Cell Patients — Badiyya

Founder of Sickle Cell Patient Health Promotion Centre, Badarawa, Kaduna, Hajia Badiyya Magaji Inuwa, has revealed that the death of her son inspired her humanitarian mission, which has so far supported over 5,000 underprivileged sickle cell patients in Nigeria.

Hajia Badiyya, who disclosed this during an interview with LEADERSHIP in Kaduna yesterday, said she established the organisation about 18 years ago after losing her son, Isa Magaji Inuwa, who battled sickle cell disorder for several years.

She explained that the idea for the centre was conceived while her son was receiving treatment at a hospital, where she encountered a woman crying helplessly because she could not afford medical care for her two-year-old child suffering from sickle cell disorder.

According to her, the woman later lost the child after failing to secure urgent medical attention.

She said the painful experience prompted discussions between her and her late son on the need to assist indigent sickle cell patients through free medication and emergency support in public hospitals.

However, before the intervention could fully commence, her son was admitted again and later died.

Hajia Badiyya stated that the organisation initially planned to cater for only 100 patients. Still, the figure increased significantly after radio announcements informed the public about the centre’s free treatment support.

She said patients began trooping to the centre from states including Kano, Katsina, Niger and Nasarawa.

“Anytime my staff told me we had exceeded our limit, I insisted we continue because I understand the pain mothers of sicklers go through,” she said.

The founder disclosed that more than 5,000 patients have benefited from the organisation through free medication, counselling, referrals and awareness campaigns since its establishment.

Speaking on the plight of sickle cell patients, Hajia Badiyya decried the level of stigma and discrimination faced by sufferers in schools, workplaces and even in marriage.

“Most sicklers are highly intelligent, but society neglects them. Some employers refuse to hire them because they believe they will always be sick,” she said.

She also advocated compulsory genotype testing before marriage to reduce the number of children born with sickle cell disorder.

“I want genotype testing attached to birth certificates so children can know their status early and make informed decisions in future,” she said.

Hajia Badiyya expressed optimism that increased awareness of genotype compatibility before marriage is already contributing to a reduction in new cases of sickle cell disorder.