The outreach program at Emmanuel College High School, Orita-UI Agbowo, Ibadan, from 7:30am to 8:30am.

Our team arrived the school premises 7:30am and was warmly received by the Vice Principal. At approximately 8:00 AM, we were invited to address the students gathered on the assembly ground.

The Key Activities were:

AWARENESS ON GENOTYPE:

The session was anchored by Mr Aremo John Oluwole, with assistance from Mrs Adegbite Pelumi and Dr (Mrs) Ishola Titilope, and Dr [name to be confirmed] Mr Aluko Ezekiel handled the media covereage while Mrs Adegbite assisted with the technical aspects of the seminar where visual aids were displayed showing the different chromosomes, their shapes, durability and lifespan which enables students have a better understanding of how a chromosome looks like and what happens if a carrier should marry another carrier with or without their understanding.

The session started with the introduction of a doctor from the BASC initiative who went round to conduct checks on all student’s present for symptoms of the sickle cell disease after which Mr Aremo proceeded on the lecture of the sickle cell disease

The lecture covered a range of important topics related to sickle cell awareness and education, outlined as follows:

Vision and Mission of BASC
The session began with an introduction to the Bunmi Akinsola Sickle Cell Initiative, highlighting its core objectives and goals. The initiative’s commitment to raising awareness, providing support, and advocating for individuals living with sickle cell disease was emphasized.

Understanding Sickle Cell
A fundamental explanation of sickle cell disease was provided to ensure a clear understanding of what the condition entails.

Haemoglobin and Its Role
The importance of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body, was thoroughly explained.

Causes of Sickle Cell Disease
The lecture addressed the genetic causes of sickle cell disease, with a focus on the role of inherited genes and the critical need for genotype awareness.

Patterns of Inheritance
An explanation of how sickle cell disease is passed from parents to children through inheritance patterns was provided, ensuring the audience understood the role of genetics in the transmission of the condition.

Audience Overview
The lecture was attended by an estimated 250 students and 20 teachers, creating a vibrant and engaged audience.

Conclusion
The lecture succeeded in fostering greater awareness and understanding of sickle cell disease among attendees. It underscored the significance of genotype education and the collective effort required to address the challenges posed by this genetic condition.

Questions and Answers:

Three students were invited to answer questions and were rewarded with customized pens for their positive responses. Additionally, the school’s principal also advised and admonished the students at the end of the session about their general knowledge of the sickle cell disease

SPECIAL CASES IDENTIFIED:

Two student’s cases were reported by the school’s principal of which one of them was unable to resume school activities due to the sickle cell challenges

Volunteers Present:

Mr Aremo John Oluwole
Mrs Adegbite Pelumi
Dr Mrs Ishola Titilope
Mr Aluko Ezekiel

CLOSING REMARKS:

The session concluded with expressions of gratitude to the School Principal, and teachers for their support and cooperation. The outreach team acknowledged the proactive engagement of the students and emphasized the importance of continued education on genotype awareness.