Keep 500 Sick Kids Alive in Crisis-Hit Communities

Hello,

Stigmatization of sickle cell kids goes beyond the school into adulthood. In Nigeria, one of the most significant examples is the potential exclusion of people living with sickle cell disease from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or from many NYSC activities. NYSC participation is a requirement for many jobs, especially in government and large organizations. Yet many of these student carriers of the disease are discriminated against directly by way of not being admissible to NYSC camp, and even where they managed to somehow get in, are not allowed to participate in the many strenous activities due to their fragile health.

Because sickle cell youths are often exempted from NYSC, they face barriers to employment, reduced opportunities, and unfair assumptions about their abilities. Many employers see the exemption and immediately conclude that the individual is “not strong enough” or “not fit for work,” even when they are fully capable.

This form of systemic stigmatization limits career growth and contributes to longterm economic hardship.

Your support helps us provide the healthcare stability that allows young adults to pursue education, training, and employment opportunities with confidence. It also strengthens our advocacy for fair treatment and equal access.

Thank you for helping us challenge these barriers.

Links:

• Sickle cell: Inquiry reveals institutional racism and failings f

Hello.

In this episode, I wanted to highlight one commonly overlooked challenges of sickle cell kids.

School should be a place where children learn, play, and build friendships, but as you already know, many young people living with sickle cell disease, are unable to enjoy school, not only because of the physical pain they go through, but because of how excluded they often feel in school.

Some classmates avoid playing with them, fearing they might “injure them” or “cause a crisis.” Others believe myths that sickle cell children are fragile or cannot participate in normal activities. Over time, this leads to isolation, loneliness, and a sense of being left out.

These children want to join sports, group activities, and games, but they're often sidelined in any day to day school activities. Even teachers sometimes misunderstand the condition, assuming the child is weak or unable to keep up academically.

Your support helps us provide the medical stability these students need and allows us to educate families and schools about sickle cell disease. With better understanding, children can participate more fully and enjoy the same opportunities as their peers.

Thank you for supporting their journey.

Links:

• Sickle cell: I didn't know I had the disease - BBC Africa