News

Covid-19: Sickle cell patients raise alarm over outrageous medical bills

Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder (APLSCD) on Wednesday said the Covid-19 pandemic has hieghtened their sufferings and further rendered them incapacitated in view of their peculiar nature.

The group also lamented increase in prices of their medications and hospital bills ocassioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

National Coordinator of the body, Aisha Edwards, disclosed this in an address to the Bishop on the Niger Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, who distributed Covid-19 palliatives, including thousand bags of rice and cartons of noddles to them at his Court in Onitsha, Anambra state.

She said, “Coronavirus pandemic has increased prices for our hospitalization and medication which has skyrocketed, thereby making some of our members lose hope in living and their parents and guardians getting frustrated and broken, while some now pray for death so they can rest.

“Currently APLSCD, is setting up a sickle cell home for her orphaned and indigent members and it will be located at Agulu Anaocha Local Government Area of the State and will need all the necessary support.”

While categorising the challenge of the group into two, medical and economic, Edwards thanked the Bishop for giving them a sense of belonging, describing the gesture as dear to them.

Edwards also commended the cleric for availing the association with a Chaplin, who would act as liaison between the association and the Diocese.

“We believe that our presence here today will set in motion, a gale of positive interaction with the Diocese, and promote urgent intervention and attention to children living with sickle cell disorder from the Diocese.

Responding, Bishop Nwokolo encouraged the group to always seek to live and make contribution their society, praying for God’s strengthen on them.

He said, “Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. Sickle cell is not a death sentence. Continue to have faith in God, stand firm and don’t blame your parents, love everybody including your parents.

“We must have hope as Christians because God cares for us, the condition you find yourself is not by choice or your fault, it is not your problem but Gods problem and he must bring solution.”

Kindly Leave a Comment