The Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder
(APLSCD) has urged Nigerian churches especially those
domiciled in Anambra State never to donate or give offering of
any amount for their sake whenever they visit their churches
for thanksgiving service.
Speaking through a press statement issued by their
Coordinator, Aisha Edward, APLSCD explained that “It has
been discovered that some churches shy away from us
thinking that we were going to take away the offering that
the congregation will give to them that SUNDAY mass/
Services.
Pls my dear respected and Honorable Clergies
We wish to state that we love and need you so much in this
cross we are bearing as stated by the ANAMBRA State law
on sickle cell 2002. Our crusade on sensitisation of people on
sickle cell disorders and carrier marriages education cuts
across the churches, the schools, the ministry of Health and
the Local
Government Areas.
“I can avail To Whom It May Concern a copy of the Law for
possible verification. It really traumatizes us watching the
church congregation giving us offerings to our members
during Thanksgiving. Please for the records, the Association
spends approximately 50,000 for each of our Thanksgiving
items and this come
from our official purse otherwise our board of trustees bear
the sacrificial burden too just to make us feel loved and
appreciated. There are no doubt our Adopted parents but not
biological parents.
These people are also highly responsible and respected in the
society particularly in Nigeria”.
It further explained that: “Our Thanksgiving Masses/Services
should be respected not ignored because it is a symbolic
Spiritual Covenant which we have with God as an Association
as well as an individual therefore it should be respected
and honoured at all time. We make this sacrifice of giving
because we believe that God, through our Thanksgiving will
touch the heart of the congregations to harken to our
Biological Gospel of life which forbids carrier marriages that
results to our painful situation in life and to prevent
the proliferation of Sickle Cell Children. Our outings are not
necessarily a show of glamorous like some conventional
thanksgiving services you see people celebrate.
“In our own Case we starve all throughout the day just to give
God the best in the Church, and for him to be merciful unto us
and shine his perpetual light on us and our Board of trustees
who bears our burden unconditionally sometimes more
than our family members. It is therefore note worthy that this
association is determined in rendering every single accounts of
our programs by imparting meaningfully and justifying
every support given to our association on improving the lives
of our members welfare wise.
This is where the supports coming from the Catholic and
the Anglican Bishops comes to play. We do not
encourage people giving us alms on the road or through a
wrong Chanel and wrong places to avoid an abuse as well as
checkmate frauds which is now on the very high rate
probably because of the economic hardship the citizens
are currently facing.
Pls give us your support responsibly through any of those
Bishops or pay directly to the Association account with
the information contained in the flyers and the hand bills”.
The association equally thanked: “Bishops who have been our
strength in this sensitization crusade as well as our board of
trustee members.
I also will like to say a big thank you to the ministry of health
particularly The Honourable Commissioner Dr Joe Akabuike
and Pharm. Dr Oby UCHEBO. Without you people our
members would have been at the mercy of the
numerous racketeers on the street and hospitals.
To Ndi Anambra indefatigable Governor Obiano and
wife Osodieme, history will always be kind to you and
your family for the kind support your government has shown
and will continue to show to these peculiar creatures from
God.
To erstwhile Governor PETER Obi, thank you for
disappointing those fraudulent NGOs and racketeers during
your tenure in denying them your support and remembering us
now and we pray this rare gesture continues for posterity,we
are grateful for your contribution for our school fees”.
It however, counseled “Ndi ANAMBRA to respect our Law if
you truly love and support us through your adherence to that
law and Your financial donations to our groups for this
sensitization.
To our South Easterners Charity begins at homeland.
To the Media, you are our weapon, the oxygen that we
breathe in our sensitization in good times and in bad time, you
always understand me my temperamental
weaknesses especially when the pressure gets to me and
when we are broke too, we pray God to keep you people alive
for us come next year.
To Our dearest
MEDICAL practioners we Love and need you unconditionally
since you are our lifeline.
To the fraudulent NGOs,
THE WAR IS VERY MUCH ON! IT IS GOING TO BE DEFINITELY
ROUGH RIDING NEXT YEAR IF YOU DO NOT STOP!
To God, we are simply grateful”.
Meanwhile, it invited the general public to their end of year
party and programmes holding on the
19th of December 2015 stressing that they would hold a grand
finale thanksgiving at St JOHN
ANGLICAN Church Ekwulobia on 20th of December.