The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting vulnerable children following a humanitarian intervention by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Esther Onyekesi, at the Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home in Agulu.
The intervention followed the case of Sochima, an abandoned toddler receiving treatment for sickle cell complications at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, where the child had been admitted in critical condition.
The Director of the orphanage, Mrs. Aisha Edwards Maduagwu, said years of appeals for support finally received attention after she was invited to the commissioner’s office to present the challenges confronting the facility and the children under its care.
During the meeting, Onyekesi encouraged the management not to lose hope, assuring them that the welfare of every child remains a priority of the administration of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. She stressed that no child should be neglected, regardless of circumstances, while urging caregivers to remain steadfast in their commitment.
As part of the immediate intervention, the commissioner approved the provision of essential relief materials, including diapers, beverages and other caregiving items, to support Sochima and other children residing in the home.
The intervention has already yielded positive results as Sochima has reportedly been transferred from the Child Emergency Ward to the Children’s Ward at COOUTH, following noticeable improvement in the child’s health.
According to the orphanage, the toddler is now stable, smiling and interacting freely with other children at the hospital’s play area, a development described as a major source of joy for caregivers and residents of the home.
Expressing appreciation, Maduagwu thanked the commissioner and the Anambra State Government for responding to the needs of vulnerable children, saying the gesture had restored hope to children who had long faced neglect and abandonment.
She noted that the intervention demonstrates the Soludo administration’s commitment to inclusive social welfare and prayed for divine wisdom, strength and success for the commissioner as she continues to champion the rights and wellbeing of women and children across the state.
The Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home in Agulu serves as a refuge and rehabilitation centre for children and adults living with sickle cell disorder, many of whom have been abandoned because of poverty, discrimination and the social stigma associated with the disease. The facility continues to advocate stronger government and public support to improve healthcare, protection and quality of life for vulnerable persons living with sickle cell disorder.
*Aisha Edwards Maduagwu*
Director, Sickle Cell Orphanage & Underprivileged Home, Agulu
08033222007.
*#SolutionGovernor #AnambraWomenAndChildren #RenewedHope #SickleCellAwareness #AnambraCares*