Safe Water for Displaced Kids in Northern, Nigeria

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