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Wife of Delta State Governor and Founder of O5 Initiative, Edith Okowa, has said the Initiative will continue to partner individuals and organisations in the management and treating of sickle cell to minimise its impact on families and society.
She also refuted reports some financial commitment to the tune of over N3 billion had been made by an international organisation to her Initiative, saying there was no memorandum of understanding (MoU) to that effect.
She made this known at a media briefing in Asaba on the activities of O5 Initiative, especially its presentation at the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United State of America (USA).
“The Initiative had established 12 sickle cell clinics in public hospitals across the state and equipped them with modern facilities, genetic counsellors and medical doctors.
“At the UN event, O5 Initiative’s modest efforts in tackling sickle cell in Delta State caught the interest of some organisations and individuals, who expressed the willingness to do the same in their countries.
The Delta First Lady also stressed that no international organisation made any financial commitments to the Initiative, saying, “I want to state categorically that no MoU has been signed and no financial commitment has been made either.
“A major outcome of our UN presentation is the expressed desire of Initiative for Global Development (IGD), a Non-Governmental Organisation to partner with O5 Initiative. Their interest is centred on digitising our sickle cell clinics across the state. This will generate critical data in the management of sickle cell patients.”
She listed some of the achievements of the Initiative to include the provision of welfare packages to prison inmates, empowerment of no fewer than 2,500 Delta women, medical outreach to over 26,000 Delta people, settlement of hospital bills for indigent citizens, provision of shelter for the homeless and feeding the poor.
The governor’s wife, who was accompanied by Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu and Director-General, O5 Initiative, Mrs. Kevwe Agas, commended individuals and organisations for their support to the project.
She urged more collaboration between the group, agencies and organisations to improve the lots of the less privileged people in the society.
