Hendrix Oliomogbe
Worried by the plight of sickle cell patients in the country, a governorship aspirant in the 2024 election, Princess Asaha Okojie has advised the government to classify sickle cell as a disability.
Speaking recently in Benin City during the unveiling of her plans to embark on a sickle cell awareness campaign in the country to alleviate the plight of sufferers of the disease, Princess Okojie wailed that the disease is invisible and impoverishes the family.
The United States based politician said that the government can do a whole lot to alleviate the sufferings parents of sickle cell patients go through, lamenting that some of them practically sell their properties to take care of their sickle cell children, living a terrible life.
The Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area born governorship aspirant insisted that there's a need for the classification of sickle cell as a disability because the parents and people who have sickle cell children are financially drained, their lifespan cut short and mortality rate very high.
She wailed: "It is scary to see children die of sickle cell because of the over whelming economic hardship, hunger and poverty in the country right now. As a matter of fact, it is an epidemic. Those with sickle cell live with it for a life time and suffer from different afflictions.
"We need to come in to address the issues of hunger, poverty, illiteracy and the pain they have to go through all their lives. The continuous blood transfusion they need, the money and every other things makes life difficult for them."
The governorship hopeful noted that she is passionate about the plight of sickle cell patients because she lost two of her sisters to the dreaded disease.
According to her, the people should be concerned about who would be able to deliver Edo State, noting that Nigerians need leaders with leadership skills and empathy for the plight of the people at this critical stage in the nation's history.
Princess Okojie noted that against the backdrop of hunger and high rate of poverty in the country today, there is an urgent need for leaders who connect with the ordinary people on the ground
"It is however sad that most politicians when they get to power don't meet the expectations of the people who elected them. The same person who gave out money and won the elections, when you visit him for favors he shuts his doors because he has paid for the position," she said.
She however conceded that the reason for such politicians' action is because they spend so much money to get into government and naturally want to recoup the money they spent during the rigorous process of the election, if they win.
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