Kaduna State joined the rest of the world on Thursday to commemorate World Sickle Cell Day 2026, with health advocates and government officials calling for increased awareness, newborn screening, and improved access to care for people living with sickle cell disease.
The event was organized by the Safiyya Sickle Cell Foundation, SSCF, in collaboration with CONSA, SCORE, SCAEN, and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health. This year’s theme was “Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease.”
Activities began with an awareness walk from the Kaduna State Ministry of Health to Kaduna State University. Participants carried banners and placards promoting genotype testing, newborn screening, and support for sickle cell warriors.
At the main event, representatives of the organizing bodies stressed the importance of early diagnosis through newborn screening. They urged individuals to know their genotype status before marriage to prevent transmission of the disorder.
Health education sessions, advocacy discussions, and testimonies from persons living with sickle cell disease and caregivers also featured at the event. Speakers shared personal experiences and appealed for greater support from government and society.
According to organizers, sickle cell disease remains one of the most common inherited blood disorders in Nigeria, making awareness and early intervention critical to reducing its burden on families.
As part of the commemoration, SSCF and the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Empowerment Network, SCAEN, played a friendly football match at Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna. The match, aimed at promoting unity and awareness, ended 8-3 in favor of SSCF.
Organizers thanked partners, volunteers, healthcare professionals, and community members for supporting the event. They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting newborn screening, genotype awareness, and better care for people living with the condition.
World Sickle Cell Day is observed annually on June 19 to raise global awareness about the disease and advocate for improved healthcare services and support for affected individuals.
