Abia first lady provides cash support, health insurance for sickle cell, albinism communities

The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has rolled out cash support and health insurance enrolment for persons living with sickle cell condition and albinism in the state.

She said each beneficiary would receive N50,000 as immediate support.

Mrs Otti spoke on Friday during the Care and Fair Outreach Day organised by her Safe Tent Care Initiative in Umuahia, with the theme of care, inclusion and dignity.

The First Lady recalled that she had met representatives of the communities in January, where she listened to their concerns and assured them of support.

“Today is not our first encounter. Today reinforces something I want you to know — we are here for you and we intend to remain here for you,” she said.

Mrs Otti acknowledged the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Albinism Foundation Africa, Jake Epelle, for transforming his personal experience with albinism into years of purposeful advocacy for disability inclusion in healthcare, education, economic opportunity, governance and political participation.

She also commended Epelle’s work in electoral inclusion, noting that the foundation observed the recently concluded governorship election and continued to promote participation of persons with disabilities.

“An election should never be merely about who wins office. Ultimately, democracy itself must win. Democracy is strengthened when citizens can participate freely, when their choices are respected, and when institutions act with integrity,” she said.

She thanked Epelle and others committed to strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions.

According to Mrs Otti, the philosophy of the Safe Tent Care Initiative is anchored on three words: Community, Consistency, Collaboration.

“Community because we must listen to the people we seek to serve. Persons living with sickle cell condition need access to appropriate and regular healthcare, counselling, referrals and continuity of care.

“Persons living with albinism require skincare and sun protection, regular eye examination and vision support, health education and timely medical attention. We must also confront stigma and barriers to the opportunity,” she explained.

She announced that in addition to health services provided at the outreach, each beneficiary would receive N50,000 as immediate support, but the more sustainable intervention would be the facilitation of their enrolment into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme.

“Because after the photographs have been taken, after the chairs have been removed and everybody has gone home, life continues and so must the support,” she said.

The First Lady noted that the initiative would not duplicate what government health institutions were already equipped to provide, but would partner with them to identify, refer and link persons in need to appropriate services, whether eye and vision care, continued sickle cell care or specialist attention.

Mrs Otti stressed that the communities would also be included in skill acquisition, livelihood and economic empowerment programmes.

“You are not defined by a medical condition. You have talents, dreams, businesses to build, careers to pursue, and families to support.

“We must move beyond asking only, ‘What can we give you today?’ We must also ask, ‘What opportunity can help you become stronger and more economically independent tomorrow?’ So our commitment is simple: health for today, a pathway for tomorrow,” she said.

She thanked the Ministry of Health, health partners, her team at the Office of the Wife of the Governor and volunteers, and saluted the sickle cell warriors and persons living with albinism.

“The most impactful outreach is one whose benefits continue long after the event is over. May what we do here today continue to make a difference long after this event is over,” she added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya-Uche, said the state government had moved two long-neglected medical conditions, sickle cell disease and albinism, from the background to the front burner of public healthcare.

He said the First Lady’s initiative had brought the state to the cusp of history by highlighting conditions long relegated to the corner by society.

“The Safe Tent Care Initiative has brought us to the cusp of history by bringing out two salient medical conditions that have been reserved to the back corner by society. But in her own way, Her Excellency is bringing their condition and their needs to the front board.

“This shows that this government is inclusive and she is someone who looks out for people who may have been forgotten by the eyes of society,” the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Maureen Aghukwa, also commended the governor’s wife for showing care to groups and urged them to use the opportunity provided by her to access better medical care.

The event featured a health talk for the sickle cell warriors and persons with albinism by a consultant paediatrician at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Mildred Izuka, and the head of the Abia State Eye Management Bureau, Betty Emeka-Obasi.