Sickle Cell Advocacy in the Time of COVID 19 and Beyond

As almost every one of us know by now, when it comes to any initiative I lead, sickle cell anemia and how to debunk the myths and taboos around it so as to make it popular are what drives my advocacy. Each year, there is a plan to move the initiative forward with lots of projects and activities in the mix. This year was no different. What we didn't envisage was the global lock down we are all experiencing now.

* What Project Are You Leading Right Now and How Does it Use or Improve Technology?

Every year, I plan a series of minor and major projects as part of my advocacy. This year, our minor project was to organize a second edition of our sickle cell fun day out and a skills acquisition workshop for senior sickle cell warriors, to help them to have some skills as they chart lives for themselves. The major project was to organize a second free screening campaign for sickle cell in addition to the yearly break the silence colour awareness campaign. Plans were already under way and suddenly, everything had to be put on hold, following the COVID 19 outbreak and the global lock down. To be sincere, I can't say I have any clear cut project right now.  However, instead of canceling everything and folding my arms, I  am looking at ways I can successfully implement other programs using technology. For instance, a video which could talk about the importance of screening for our genotypes and encouraging others to do the test as soon as possible. It is still an idea but something seriously being contemplated.  Technology has been a huge force in my advocacy and in this period when almost everything is going digital, it is worth considering.

* How Many People Will Be Impacted by Your work?

Our last screening had 150 people as target. This year, our target was planned at atmost 500 persons.  We also had a plan to target about 1000 persons with sickle cell and provide them with hotwater bottles. However, taking into consideration the fact that I and majority of my target population are high risk individuals in this COVID 19 era, I am avoiding crowds and social gatherings until this is over. Which means at this stage, almost all the programs are on hold except those that can be implemented online. So at this initial stage,it is difficult to have a clear number of how many people will be impacted by the video though I am hoping the message will be strong enough to reach a wider audience globally.

* What Do You Need to Reach Your Goal?

My major activities of Free screening and operarion 1000 hotwater bottles for 1000 warriors are on hold, not cancelled. Therefore, any links to resources to accomplish these would be very much appreciated. I will also be very glad to have some help in video editing and stuff, if possible a crash course on and links to resources which may also include finances.

*What Successes Have You Had?

- My first ever video with BBC in which I spoke about sickle cell had more than 3000 views.

-  Last year, hundreds joined my Break The Silence campaign round the world to wear red and help me paint social media red for sickle cell.

- My free screening targeting about 150 persons had media houses present with large viewership across Cameroon and Africa. Even print media wrote about it. I was interviewed live on TV about my campaign with majority of the country watching. I can say thousands, even millions were reached and the message was heard.

- My activities won me several awards last year amongst them The Sickle Cell International Advocate of the Year 2019. 

As more and more initiatives go digital, I am also altering my programs to make the most out of technology to keep my advocacy initiative moving during this era of the COVID 19 and beyond.