By Michael Nnebife
The National Coordinator, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder, APLSCD, Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, has appealed to the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to crack down on merchants of herbal medicine, claiming to have a cure for sickle cell disease to save the lives of Anambra residents living with sickle cell disorder.
The National Coordinator, who made the appeal in a statement issued to the press on 8th March, accused some herbal medicine dealers in the state claiming to have a cure for sickle cell disease, of endangering the lives of innocent citizens living with the disease.
The Coordinator in the statement she titled, ”Open Appeal to His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State, to curb the Menace of Fake Sickle Cell Treatment Killing Innocent Anambra Citizens”, applauded Governor Soludo for tackling the menace of fake native doctors in the state.
‘Your administration’s clampdown on these individuals, who prey on vulnerable citizens with unrealistic means and fake promises of wealth and quick fixes, is a step in the right direction,’Â Maduagwu said, and begged Governor Soludo to extend the same fight to the area of herbal medicine sales in accordance with the Anambra Homeland Security Law.
‘My appeal is about the growing concerns of impostors and charlatans selling fake sickle cell cures to unsuspecting members of the public.
‘These unscrupulous individuals have exposed a lot of sickle cell persons to organ damage, leading to the death of many.
‘These merchants of death with their unwholesome products, keep endangering the lives of innocent citizens, particularly children, peddling false hopes, and unproven treatments.
‘It is crucial that your administration takes decisive actions by using the same force used to address fake native doctors to tackle this disturbing issues as well.
‘During the public hearing for the enactment of the 2019 Sickle Cell Law, the house members and Anambra State clergy men, especially Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmos Ebebe of Awka Catholic Diocese, with other stakeholders, frowned against the menace of quacks selling fake sickle cell cures, and called on the law enforcement to go after such inhuman practices.
‘Now that the Anambra State Sickle Cell Law is in place with the new Homeland Security Law which is currently exposing similar criminal elements thriving on the vulnerability of our ignorant society to endanger human life, I firmly believe in the rule of law and justice taking its course against any such individuals exploiting sickle cell persons, exposing them to herbal concoctions which in turn damage their organs and endanger their lives,’ Maduagwu said.
She suggested that every concerned citizen should be properly educated about the dangers of such unproven treatment, and also encouraged to seek medical attention from qualified healthcare professionals.
‘Some of my members I had lost to the infamous sickle cell treatment include, the late Ifunanya Rowland and Nkiru Rowland, two siblings from Ekwulobia in Aguata LGA; the late Gabriel Chigbo, from Nri, Anaocha LGA, to mention but a few.
‘Others who sustained organ failures like Miriam Anyaduba, from Ogbunike, Oyi LGA, is currently undergoing rehabilitation in our sickle cell home.
‘The Ejide brothers from Nri in Anaocha LGA also discovered that the treatment was all fake after they wasted so much money and left empty handed with so much disappointment.
‘Your Excellency, may I plead that these fake doctors come to my Sickle Cell Home and put their cure to test and if my suspicion is confirmed, they should be made to face the full wrath of the law and if otherwise, they should be genuinely certificated,’ Maduagwu, who doubles as a Director, Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home, Agulu, continued to appeal.
She expressed readiness to make herself available whenever possible to shed more light on the menace of fake herbal medicine doctors.
‘I would be happy to provide your administration with insights to save innocent children’s lives from the clutches of fake herbal medicine doctors,’ Maduagwu promised.
