The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has stressed that sustainable development in the Niger Delta is impossible without a healthy population, describing the wellbeing of the people as central to the region’s growth and prosperity.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated this at the Sickle Cell Health Promotion and Sensitisation Programme held at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. He noted that Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with a particularly heavy burden in the Niger Delta.
Represented by the Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Patience Ezugu, Ogbuku said the sensitisation programme was designed to deepen public awareness, promote prevention, and strengthen care for people living with sickle cell disease across the region.
“As a Commission mandated to enhance the wellbeing of our people, the NDDC recognises that sustainable development is impossible without a healthy population,” he said. “This programme reinforces our commitment to preventive healthcare, early diagnosis and community education.”
He urged young people to know their genotype early, patients to remain hopeful, and health professionals to sustain collaboration in research, counselling and community outreach.
According to him, the Commission’s goal is to ensure that every young person understands genotype compatibility, every family has access to screening, and every patient receives care without stigma.
“Prevention is achievable, and informed choices save lives,” Ogbuku added, reaffirming the NDDC’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, empowering communities and building a healthier Niger Delta.
Earlier, the Founder of the Sickle Cell Awareness Initiative Ireland–Nigeria (SCAIIN), Mrs Esther Pepple Onolememen, commended the NDDC for prioritising public health and recognising sickle cell disease as both a medical and socio-developmental challenge.
She explained that SCAIIN, a non-governmental organisation, is dedicated to breaking the cycle of pain, stigma and silence associated with sickle cell disorder through research, education and community mobilisation.
According to her, the sensitisation programme would improve health outcomes and strengthen public trust. “Together, we are rewriting the story of sickle cell in Nigeria—from silence to knowledge, from stigma to support, and from neglect to action,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Derefaka Yemiesibo, a parent of a child living with sickle cell disease, expressed gratitude to the NDDC for supporting awareness initiatives, noting that such efforts help families build resilience and hope.