Sickle Cell Awareness: Mai Dunama Foundation Disburses Ramadan Sadaqa, Seeks Government Support
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia
The Mai Dunama Sickle Cell Foundation has intensified its campaign on sickle cell awareness with the distribution of Ramadan Sadaqa to vulnerable persons, alongside renewed calls for government intervention in addressing the health challenge.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Rabi Mai Dunama, disclosed this while speaking with journalists after the outreach, emphasizing that the organisation remains committed to educating the public on sickle cell disorder and supporting affected individuals, particularly the less privileged.
She explained that the foundation engages in community and school outreaches, premarital counselling, and free genotype testing for youths to promote informed marital decisions and reduce the spread of the disease.
According to her, the group also trains healthcare workers on basic management of sickle cell cases and works to correct widespread misconceptions about the condition, especially regarding its pattern of inheritance.
Rabi Mai Dunama further called on government and stakeholders to introduce and enforce policies that would make genotype testing compulsory before marriage, noting that stronger collaboration with religious and cultural institutions is critical in curbing the prevalence of the disorder.
In her remarks, a beneficiary, Yahanasu Ahmed Mohammed, commended the founder for her compassion and sustained support to people living with sickle cell.
She appealed to government at all levels to provide adequate support, including access to free medication, improved healthcare services, and sustained awareness programmes to ease the burden on affected families.
The foundation noted that the Ramadan Sadaqa initiative was part of its humanitarian efforts to support the needy during the fasting period while promoting charitable giving.
The Mai Dunama Sickle Cell Foundation continues to expand its advocacy through education, healthcare support, and community-based interventions across the country.
