Rotary International District 9111 has commissioned a state-of-the-art Sickle Cell Disease Centre at the State General Hospital, Ota, Ogun State on Saturday, 28th June, 2025.
Rotary International District 9111 District Governor, Rotarian Dr Oluwole Kukoyi disclosed that “the ultra modern Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Centre facility is poised to cater for and revolutionize care for individuals living with sickle cell disorder in Nigeria and beyond.”
According to DG Kukoyi, “This Star project is a beacon of Rotary’s compassion and global reach. With the Sickle Cell Disease Centre, we have provided hope and succor for families affected by this condition.”
The District’s Fundraising Committee Chair, Rotarian Bamidele Onalaja stated that the facility was built by donations from Rotarians in District 9111 and partners fully equipped with state of the art medical equipments from Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation (TRF).”
The commissioning ceremony was graced by the Federal Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako; Dr. Tomi Coker, Honourable Commissioner for Health Ogun State ably represented by Dr, ; the Chief Medical Director General Hospital Ota, Dr and the Chief Host, the District Governor Rtn. Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi, who is also the Chief Medical Director of Ace Medicare Clinic, Ota, Ogun State and other Rotary leaders.”
The Rotary District 9111 Sickle Cell Disease Centre was built through direct labour under the supervision of the Sickle Cell Disease Building Committee, led by Rotarian Babatunde Alimi, and the foundation laying was conducted on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 under a very heavy down pour.
The Secretary to Sickle Cell Building Committee stated that, “The design of the facility is expected to serve as a critical healthcare hub for diagnosis, treatment, education, and support services for sickle cell patients in Ogun State and beyond.”
Sickle cell disease is an inherited group of disorders, red blood cells contort into a sickle shape. The cells die early, leaving a shortage of healthy red blood cells (sickle cell anaemia) and can block blood flow causing pain to sufferers or warriors (sickle cell crisis).
Rotarian Dr Wole Kukoyi further revealed that “SCD affects over 7.7 million people worldwide, causing 34,000 deaths annually and contribute to further 376,000 mortality.”
He noted that “Over eighty percent of Sickle cell disease (SCD) warriors are in Sub - Saharan Africa and Nigeria bears highest burden of SCD globally, with four to six million warriors.”
SCD contributes to under five years old infant mortality, with eight percent attributed to SCD.
The Chairman Rotary Disease Prevention and Treatment Committee, Rotarian Dr Femi Oloyede during press interview disclosed that “the newly commissioned Rotary SCD Centre at Ota would help to stem the increasing rates of SCD , especially infant mortality in under five years old attributed to SCD”.
Dr Oloyede, a past President of Rotary Club of Ewutuntun and the Chief Medical Director of High Rock Clinic Lekki, Lagos further stated that, “ thousands of households from Lagos and Ogun States, especially residents of Ado Odo/ Ota would benefit directly from the Rotary SCD Centre. Ogun 6.4 million and Lagos 22 million population and residents shall receive treatment from the donated facility,” he noted.
Another renown medical practitioner, Rotarian Dr Barth Ufoegbunam, a past President of Rotary Club of Ikeja South observed that before the donation of Rotary SCD Centre, patients were well managed at State General Hospital and private hospitals, but with the free state of the art medical facility donated by District 9111 Rotarians and Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation (TRF), the SCD warriors would receive diagnosis, counseling, and health care services nearer, especially in cases of emergency”.
A first class traditional ruler, the Olota of Ota, HRM Oba Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege (Lanlege Ekun II, Arole Iganmode) expressed heartfelt appreciation to Rotary District 9111, Rotarians and selfless donors for what he described as a “life saving gift” to the State, Ministry of Health and his domain Ota, noting that “ health is wealth”.
A resident of Ota, Mrs Omolola Ayoola Balogun during interview added that “ Rotary SCD Centre no doubt has brought healthcare to the grasroot level,” She remarked.
The commissioning ceremony was held amongst drumbeat, dancing and rejoicing concluded with the symbolic cutting of the tape, and pledges from the management and Ogun State Ministry of Health, doctors, nurses and health care workers to safeguard, and maintain the facility for sustain benefits.