By Proscovia Achomo

Gulu

Queen, Fiona Mary Acibo, the Miss Nwoya 2023/2024 who is also the Face of Gulu beauty pageant has started a sickle cell disease awareness campaign in Acholi Sub region

She said is spearheading this sickle cell disease awareness creation campaign in Acholi sub-region because she moved in the local communities and saw how people are battling with the disease with very minimal attention being given to it. ”This disease is very serious, I have seen how people are struggling with it, something needs to be done,” she remarked.

According to her, the campaign is intended to intensify awareness about sickle cell disease burden among the local communities across Acholi sub-region as one of the most burdened sickle cell regions.

 
Miss Nwoya-Face of Gulu (in white suit) poses for photo moment with Aol Betty Ochan Gulu City woman MP and freinds

Innocent Odokonyero, a parent to children living with sickle cell said he is being overwhelmed by the health condition of his children because of the high demand for blood since he is always donating blood to help them. “This condition comes with a lot of financial challenges, managing this disease is very hard, the drugs are very expensive and I keep donating my blood to help my children,” he stressed.

Betty Aol Ocan, Woman Member of Parliament for Gulu city urges young people to always screen for sickle just like the other diseases before they start living as wives and husbands in order to overcome the burden of sickle disease. “My children please make sure you screen for sickle cell disease before proposing for someone you want to be with as your wife or husband, use the time for courtship to do the test this will help to address the challenge of sickle cell disease in Acholi sub-region,” she noted.

It is estimated that 20,000 babies are born with sickle cell disease in Uganda each year with Acholi and Lango sub regions having the highest prevalence followed by Teso, Busoga and parts of central region.

COVER PHOTO: School children matching through the streets of Gulu during the launch of sickle cell disease awareness campaign By Proscovia Achomo