World Sickle Cell Day provides opportunity to raise the awareness of adequacy and safety of blood
MEDIA ADVISORY
NIGERIA—19 June 2014—Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation is hosting its 2nd annual blood safety event on 19 June, World Sickle Cell Day, in Nigeria. The blood safety event will:
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Provide an update on progress being made from last year
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Introduce the clinical trial initiated in March in Kumasi, Ghana, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of treating whole blood, using riboflavin and UV light, as a way to reduce the incidences of transfusion-transmitted malaria
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Highlight a treatment option for Sickle Cell Disease being used in Africa called Red Blood Cell Exchange
Similar to last year, the event brings together leading blood safety experts including: Principal Investigator Professor J.P. Allain, University of Cambridge; Dr. Raymond Goodrich, Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs and Chief Science Officer, Blood Bank Technologies, Terumo BCT; and Professor Olu Akinyanju, Chairman of the Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation will also be in attendance.
In discussions about the event, President Obasanjo said, "One of the goals of our foundation is to ensure that sickle cell disease patients receive the best quality of care, allowing them to improve their overall quality of life." We believe that by hosting this event and bringing these leading experts together we will have a positive impact on improving blood safety, reducing transfusion-transmitted malaria and see vast improvements in public health not only for the Nigerian people, but for all the people of Africa leaving a lasting legacy for all those who come after us in need of a blood transfusion. Anne Welsh the Vice Chair of the Foundation suffers from sickle cell disease and is very keen to continue advocating for quality care for sickle cell patients across Africa.
KEY FACTS:1
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With a population of 112 million and an annual growth rate of 3.2% Nigeria has the most sickle cell patients in the world with about 25% having the sickle cell trait
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1 in 4 or 40 million people in West Africa carry the sickle cell gene
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200,000 African children are born with sickle cell anaemia each year, 150,000 of them in Nigeria
Event Details:
When: 19 June 2014
Where: Eko Hotel Nigeria
Time: 10 a.m.
Interview Opportunities: The following will be available on site for interviews:
About the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation:
The Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation was established with the vision of advancing human security in Africa. There are close to 239 million people (source: world hunger education service) in Africa living in extreme poverty. They suffer from chronic shortages of basic necessities such as food, clean water, shelter and sanitation. The Foundation partners with change agents, policy makers, global partners and visionary individuals worldwide to tackle critical problems in five critical areas of human security: Food and Nutrition Security: Feed Africa Initiative, Economic Security: Youth Empowerment and Employment Initiative, Gender Equality: Girls Child Initiative, Health Security: Health Initiative and Good and Effective Governance leadership
The Foundation seeks to forge strong partnerships and work to raise public awareness of the issues focused on and also encourage inspiring action at all levels.
Media Contacts:
Erica Negro
Carlotta Olason
Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation
Tel: +44 (0)203 405 3468 (London)
Tel +234 (0)909 6973777 ( Nigeria)
Click here for information, photos and video from last year's event in Ghana.