SICKLE CELL AID FOUNDATION (SCAF)

2016 ANNUAL SUMMARY AND 2017 ACTION PLAN

Introduction:

The Sickle Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 2010 to help

increase awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) and to ensure that people living with this disorder have access

to the quality healthcare that they deserve.

This is a summary of our projects, programs, initiatives, and impact we have made as an organization in the year

under review (2016). It comprises a comprehensive activity appraisal, vivid impact measurement and evaluation, as

well as our organization’s 2017 Action Plan.

Set Targets:

In 2016, our aim was to scale up direct impact of existing projects to reach more people, whilst introducing more

innovative projects and programs. The target was to reach a minimum of 10,000 people nationwide in furtherance

of our commitment to achieve reduction in the spread of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) and improved healthcare

provision for those living with the disease.

Figure 1: Showing a summary of projects implemented in 2016.

- Projects and Prospective Outcomes:

a) Know Your Genotype (KYG) Campaign: In 2016, the KYG Campaign, a pilot initiative of the

Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation (SCAF) was targeted at conducting a total of 5,000 free genotype

tests across 5 focal states. Persons discovered to have Sickle Cell Disorders (SCD) are placed on our

Drug Delivery Plan, and those with the trait are sent regular reminders. In total SCAF was able to

conduct 2,500 tests in Abuja, Lagos, Delta, Kaduna, Niger and Nassarawa state.

Figure 2: Free Genotype Tests across six states in Nigeria.

b) Blood Drive: The primary aim of the blood drive campaign has been to encourage youths to play

active roles in saving lives through donating blood periodically. In 2016, we set up the Haima Health

Initiative with the sole purpose of creating a first of its kind online database of regular blood donors in

Nigeria. Haima started a project under SCAF but is now a full independent entity. SCAF and Haima

carried out 3 Blood Donation Drives in Lagos, and 4 in Abuja, realizing a total of 220 pints of blood

which was subsequently donated to the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service and National Blood

Transfusion Service (NBTS);

14th May 2016. Awele Blood Memorial Drive.

30th January 2016 New Year Blood Drive, Abuja

14th of February Love Drive, Lagos

14th May 2016 Awele Memorial Blood Drive, Abuja

4th June 2016 Pre-Ramadan Blood Drive, Lagos

6th August 2016 Rotary Club Blood Drive, Lagos

17th December, 2016 Sickle Cell NGO’s Blood Drive, Abuja

12th November, 2016 at Agon, Abuja.

Figure3: SCAF Blood Donation Drive and Know Your Genotype Campaign

Haima Health Initiative (HHI): HHI tackles the shortage of blood supply for persons in critical need of blood

transfusion occasioned by the lack of voluntary blood donation and the absence of a centralized/integrated virtual

blood bank. With a 24 hour patient response service, we link patients in need of blood to donors who have

already signed up to donate blood, hence modernizing the current structure of blood supply for the Nigerian

populace in healthcare delivery.

Haima Health Initiative has successfully responded to over 500 calls for emergency blood supply. We currently

have a donor database of over 500 donors who we have connected to over 350 patients. In 14 months of

operation, we have supplied over 500 pints of blood to patients in emergency cases of surgery, accidents, anemia

and Sickle Cell Crisis using our indigenously developed mobile and web technology.

Figure 4: Showing how Haima Initiative works

SCAFLympics: Our annual Olympic styled event aimed at encouraging healthy living by encouraging young

people to partake in sporting activities, whilst creating awareness to the health challenges of Sickle Cell Disorders.

It also presents an opportunity for us to raise funds through sale of SCAF merchandise, vendor spaces and event

tickets. The event took place on the 24th of September 2016 at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja. It had a good

turnout and the event raised funds for the cause.

c) Nigerian Law School Bwari: SCAF still maintains a team at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari

where it was first conceived. This is the 6th year of students raising awareness and funds for sickle cell

within the local community. The students successfully carried out their own SCAFlympics, drug drive,

and touch of red with the co-operation of the law school administration.

d) Sickle Cell Club Scheme: The SCAF team completed its Sickle cell club handbook to be used to

create sickle cell clubs in secondary schools. It was piloted in Ibadan where the senior secondary

students are adopting the new curriculum. The book will be officially launched in 2017 and introduced

to 20 secondary schools approved by the Federal Ministries of Health and Education, as well as the

FCT Secondary Education Board. A National essay competition will also be launched to enhance early

knowledge about sickle cell and blood health.

e) Beneficiary Support: SCAF had its largest fundraising for beneficiaries in 2016 in response to the

continued requests for financial support for surgeries. The first beneficiary Mofesola Abisagbo needed

a bi-lateral hip replacement surgery. The surgery was paid for in two sections at a total of N3.25

million and performed by Nikea Consults at Reddington Hospital in Lagos. Unfortunately, Mofe

passed away after the second surgery in November 2016 due to post-surgical complications. The

second beneficiary was Hafsat Mohammed who had her right leg amputated due to osteomalayitis of

the fermul head. She was also recommended for a hip replacement surgery on the left leg. She needed

N5 million to buy a prosthetic leg and potentially undergo a hip replacement procedure, which we

were able to raise. We purchased a prosthetic hip for N3.3million and she is currently undergoing

physiotherapy, learning how to walk with it. The hip replacement is scheduled for 2017 after she has

successfully completed the process. Thirdly, Solomon Ugwu needed a procedure for Chronic

osteomyelitis in his right calcaneum which he has successfully undergone at a Camek Orthopaedic

Hospital in Abuja. We paid N287,000 in total for his procedure leaving his hip replacement for his

right hip outstanding for a total of about N1.5 million due in 2017. The total amount spent on

beneficiaries’ surgery in 2016 was Six million eight hundred and thirty-seven thousand naira

(N6,837,000).

Figure 5: SCAF Funded surgeries for beneficiaries.

f) SCAF Drug Drive: The SCAF team gave out free essential drugs to its sickle cell beneficiaries

monthly with a focus on children. In 2016 the team was able to give out about 1 Million Naira worth

of drugs to its beneficiaries, thanks to a kind donation from the 1st lady Mrs. Aisha Buhari.

g) World Sickle Cell Week: In commemoration of the United Nations Sickle Cell Awareness Day, June

19th, SCAF organized a series of events to create awareness, offer practical solutions and engineer

research for Sickle Cell Disorder. These events include:

Symposium in Partnership with the U.S Embassy, Abuja on Indigenous mapping and

management of Sickle Cell Disorder. 20th June, 2016.

Media Rounds on SCAF’s approach to awareness and management of Sickle Cell Disorder in

Lagos and Abuja.

Hospital Visitations in Abuja by SCAF Team Members, empowering Sickle Cell Patients with

welfare and medical assistance. 17th June, 2016 Asokoro General Hospital, Maitama General

Hospital and Garki General Hospitals.

Warriors Forum in Partnership with Zankli Hospital, on Nutrition and Management of Sickle

Cell Disorder.

Free Genotype Testing and Drug Distribution.

Social Media Awareness Campaign #OneWord employing social media platforms to raise

awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder. With this, we got over 7,000 youths involved in leading

discussions and amplifying conversations on Sickle Cell Disorder.

Figure 6: Ms. Nkem Azinge, Secretary

SCAF Headquarters Abuja, speaking at

the World Sickle Cell Day Symposium

organized in partnership with the U.S

Embassy, Abuja.

Figure 7: Cross-Section of

participants at SCAF’s

World Sickle Cell Day

Symposium, U.S Embassy,

Abuja.

Impact Assessment:

An evaluation of the organization’s project implementation as regards set targets:

Table 1: showing Impact assessment of 6 different projects in the year under review.

S/N Project Projected Reach

Outcome % Impact Assessment

1 KYG 5,000 2500 50%

2 Blood Drive 500 pints 200 pints 40%

3 SCAFLympics 500 attendees 750 attendees 150%

4 Sickle Cell Symposium 50 attendees 75 attendees 150%

5 Hospital Visitations 30 patients 19 patients 63.3%

6 Social Media Campaign 20,000 22,000 110%

Overall Target Completion

93.88

From Table 1 above, our best performances were recorded in the Sickle Cell Symposium and SCAFLympics

where we recorded 150% Impact percentage surpassing our target number of individuals to be reached. Our

Social Media Campaigns also recorded tremendous success as we got over 22,000 young people involved in

conversations aimed at enhancing awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder. However, our targets of getting 5,000

individuals tested in the Know Your Genotype (KYG) campaign, as well as donating 500 pints of blood with our

Blood Drive were not met, as we recorded 50% and 40% completion respectively. Overall, we met 93.88% of our

set targets, directly reaching at least 3,344 and over 22,000 virtually.

Impact Analysis: Showing Impact of our works so far.

Limitations: SCAF encountered a number of major challenges in 2016, the most important being the loss of an

executive member Nura Abdullahi due pulmonary embolism during a sickle cell crisis as well as our beneficiary

Mofesola after her second surgery. In addition, we lost 2 other sickle cell members in our network emphasizing

the persistently high mortality rate that plagues sickle cell patients in Nigeria.

- The second major challenge encountered is the shortage of funds to implement projects on a larger scale and

therefore create more meaningful impact. The lack of funds affects our operations, personnel, logistics and

ability to help our beneficiaries. We also need to purchase an operational vehicle (bus) as a matter of

necessity, to improve logistic in the discharge of our projects.

2017 ACTION PLAN

We intend to scale up our activities in the year 2017 by introducing more innovative and impactful projects, larger

fundraising, prudent management of resources and enhancing the organization’s structure

STATEMENT OF NEED:

- To effectively carry out our mandate as an organization, achieving 100% implementation of all projects in

2017 and reaching an additional 100,000 Nigerians, we would need financial investment of at least N50

million which we currently do not possess. These funds are needed to drive projects across the six

geopolitical zones of Nigeria to have a truly national impact and save more lives.

- In realizing our commitment to provide quality healthcare to patients living with Sickle Cell Disorders, the

need for funds to build a Sickle Cell Clinic in Nigeria is of utmost priority to our organization.

- There is also need to purchase an operational vehicle (bus) to ease travels and other logistic engagements,

grow the organization’s membership, as well as recruit more volunteers.

GOAL: Our goal is to reduce the scourge of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) as well as attain excellent standard of

healthcare for people living with the condition.

Table 2: Objectives

General Objective Specific Objective

1 Reducing the inheritance of Sickle Cell in Nigeria. To reduce the inheritance of Sickle Cell Disorder and

reduce cases of new Sickle Cell births by 10% within

the next 2 years, by embarking on massive

sensitization campaigns in all geopolitical zones of

the federation. Enhancing our free genotype testing,

to reach at least 40000 people within the this timeline

2 Improve the standard of healthcare for persons

living with Sickle Cell Disorder.

Provide free monthly routine drugs for Sickle Cell

patients, advocate for better health infrastructure to

effectively deal with Sickle Cell Disorder. Hasten

efforts to build Nigeria’s first Sickle Cell Specialist

Center that will provide services of global best

standards.

3 Ensure increased awareness on Sickle Cell

Disorder.

To educate the populace and organize awareness

campaigns on Sickle Cell Disorder reaching at least

100.000 people physically. To reach a further 500,000

people through electronic, print and social media

4 Provide remedial amenities and social services for

people living with Sickle Cell Disorder.

To provide drugs, warm clothing, and food to people

living with SCD. To also assist beneficiaries in need

with scholarships, psychological rehabilitation

therapy, and shelter assistance.

5 Reduce death from Sickle Cell Crisis and lack of

blood supply by ensuring a vibrant network of

voluntary blood donors linked with patients

whenever need arises.

To have an online database of 1 million blood

donors, thus ensuring ready supply of blood in

emergency situations. To run a 24 hour mobile and

web service for easy access to blood supply.

SCALE UP PLAN: How we intend to reach more Sickle Cell Warriors in Nigeria.

Acknowledgement:

Sickle Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF) remains extremely grateful to our board members, partners, donors and

volunteers for their immense support. We are fully convinced that with your unwavering support we will reach

more people, and ultimately make true our resolution of achieving our goals of greater awareness and care for

sickle cell and blood disorders.

Thank you!

Appendix: Sector Needs and Financial Requirement