Enhanced Vaccines for Sickle Cell Kids in Nigeria

Dear partners,

Sepsis is one of the most dangerous and fastmoving threats faced by children living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Because their immune systems are weakened and their spleens often stop functioning early in life, these children cannot fight infections effectively. A simple fever or minor bacterial infection can escalate rapidly into sepsis—an overwhelming, bodywide infection that leads to organ failure, shock, and death if not treated immediately.

In rural communities across Nasarawa State, the risk is even higher. Families lack access to enhanced vaccines, early diagnosis, and reliable medical care. Many children are identified only after severe illness has already begun, and lifesaving antibiotics or emergency treatment are often unavailable. For sickle cell infants, sepsis is not just a medical condition—it is a constant, deadly threat.

Our project, Enhanced Vaccines for Sickle Cell Kids in Nigeria, directly addresses the root causes that make sepsis so common and so deadly. With your support, we are providing the enhanced vaccines that protect sickle cell infants from the bacteria most responsible for severe infections. These vaccines—PCV13, PPSV23, and meningococcal vaccines—are not part of Nigeria’s routine immunization schedule, and most families cannot afford them. By removing this barrier, we are preventing the infections that often progress into sepsis.

In the coming months, our team will deliver newborn genotype testing and fully funded enhanced vaccines across Keffi, Karu, and Toto LGAs. Early diagnosis ensures that infants with SCD are identified before they fall seriously ill. Early vaccination ensures they receive the protection that prevents bacterial infections from spiraling into sepsis. Together, these interventions reduce emergency hospitalizations, painful crises, and the catastrophic medical expenses families face when a child becomes critically sick.

Your donation is helping us stop sepsis before it starts. A gift of $21 CAD provides the full set of enhanced vaccines for one child, shielding them from deadly infections that often lead to sepsis. A gift of $69 CAD fully immunizes three infants, giving families hope for a healthier, safer future.

Thank you for standing with these children. With your support, we are preventing avoidable deaths and giving sickle cell infants the chance to grow, thrive, and live beyond the shadow of sepsis.

Warmly,