World Sickle Cell Day:CERAC Connects With Patients

The First Lady, Chantal Biya, Founding President of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), yesterday June 20, 2019 sent a delegation of her association’s members with gifts to patients suffering from sickle cell at her Foundation that bears her name. The event was in line with activities to commemorate the World Sickle Cell Day which was celebrated on June 19. It was an occasion for CERAC members to better understand the genetic disease, share in the pains of children, adults and families with the disease as well as seek ways on how to intensify sensitization around the disease which is preventable. Heading the CERAC delegation was, Aissa Motaze, who is also the Secretary General of CERAC.

The CERAC delegation offered gifts amongst them; a refrigerator, food stuffs and medications to the Sickle Cell Unit of the Mother and Child Centre of the Chantal Biya Foundation (CBF). On hand to receive the gifts was the Director of the Mother and Child Centre of the Foundation, Professor Paul Koki Ndombo amongst staff from the Sickle Cell Unit. A representative from the Unit, Dr Aminatou said the presence of CERAC brought joy and life to most of their patients who most at times are in pains due to health complications from the disease. Although the unit, which exists since 2008, provides different types of assistance to children and patients with sickle cell, the gifts from CERAC, according to Dr Aminatou, will enable the unit better care for patients at the unit who are constantly on medication from one health complication to another.

Before the CERAC delegation visited the different sickle cell units, Professor Mbassi Awa, a neuro-pediatrician at the Mother and Child Centre of the Foundation, took time off to present the Foundation to their guests, whom they consider a sister association. Since 1994, in order to raise national and international awareness on the fight against povert...