Determined to minimize the negative effects of sickle cell disorder in our society, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles, recently donated cash and cartons of Indomie Instant Noodles to the Nigerian Sickle Cell Foundation.

Making the donation on behalf of the company at the National Sickle Cell Centre, Idi Araba, Lagos, the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Tope Ashiwaju, said Dufil, as a responsible corporate entity, had a history of contributing to the development of good health delivery in Nigeria, and thus touching many lives in many different ways.

Mr Ashiwaju explained that the dearth in the funding of the health sector, especially in the area of research, provision of drugs and equipment, was the rationale behind the company’s donation to the foundation.

According to him, “Sickle Cell is a very complex condition and requires huge amount of funds and research if there is any progress to be made in improving the lives of those living with this condition. Dufil Prima Foods Plc saw the need to contribute its quota to ensuring people living with this health condition have access to quality health care so as to reduce the number of patient that die annually from this condition.”

He added that Dufil’s intervention became imperative because of the enormous financial implication involved in managing the condition, which can put the average or poor individual who could not afford it at a disadvantage.

The chairman of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Professor Olu Akinyanju, who was present at the donation, thanked the management of Dufil Prima Foods Plc for their kind gesture to the foundation.

According to him, the Sickle Cell Centre was set up to address all issues relating to Sickle Cell Anaemia, while adding that Dufil’s donation would go a long way in achieving the foundation’s goals.

The chairman noted that available statistics showed that over 80 per cent of children with sickle cell anaemia are born in Africa, pointing out that Nigeria, by virtue of its large population, was recording the highest number of births of affected children.

He, however, expressed optimism that access to affordable treatment would reduce the crisis experienced by children in the early phase of their lives.

Akinyanju, therefore, called on individuals and corporate bodies to emulate Dufil by supporting the activities of the centre.

Mrs. Ayo Otaigbe, Director of Sickle Cell Foundation, also thanked Dufil for its contribution to the foundation. Otaigbe stressed that sickle cell anaemia is a huge burden that requires a lot of support and that Dufil’s donation would go a long way in solving some of the needs of the foundation.