SCD BILL 2020 IS HALF-FULL NOT HALF-EMPTY -Oyelami
By Trek Africa Newspaper
Editor, Trek Africa Newspaper, Yomi Oyelami
* Sickle Cell Advocate, Oyelami wants the Senate to improve input in bill
The sickle cell anemia (prevention, control, and management) bill 2020 otherwise known as SCDBill2020 has scaled second reading on the floor of the Nigerian Senate but has enjoyed mixed reactions in the sickle cell community. This is because little or no consultation was made with the stakeholders in the sector during the bill formulation process which has created lacuna for the anticipated success of the bill.
Sen. Sam Egwu
The bill sponsored by Senator Sam Egwu representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District is however, not all negatives. This is established by a sickle cell advocate and Trek Africa Newspaper’s editor, Abayomi Oyelami who believes the cup should be seen as half-full rather than half-empty. ‘For one this bill has brought sickle cell to the frontline of discussion’, he said.
‘This is probably the first of its kind legislation in a country that has the largest number of persons living with sickle cell disorder in the world’ as he commended members of the Red Chamber for the bold step.
The sickle cell advocate, however, asked the Senate to put into consideration medical procedures such as newborn screening, high-performance liquid chromatography, and others as ways to achieve ‘prevention, control, and management of sickle cell’ as envisaged by the bill.
Mr. Oyelami kicked against sections of the bill which exhibit human rights violations. Nigeria is a prominent signatory to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and cannot do contrary to stipulated fundamental freedoms.
