Adekunle Gold Foundation, SAMI Provide Free Healthcare to Over 250 Sickle Cell Warriors in Lagos
The Adekunle Gold Foundation, in partnership with the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), has strengthened efforts to improve healthcare access for people living with sickle cell disorder by providing free medical services to more than 250 beneficiaries during the Xtracare Free Medical Clinic Outreach in Surulere, Lagos.
The outreach, held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, formed part of activities commemorating the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day and brought together healthcare professionals, advocates, volunteers, development partners and members of the sickle cell community in a coordinated effort to bridge healthcare gaps affecting sickle cell warriors across Nigeria.
Beneficiaries received a wide range of free healthcare services, including medical consultations, nursing care, genetic counselling, psychotherapy, art therapy sessions and routine medications. The initiative was designed to address immediate health needs while promoting long-term wellness, mental health support and informed healthcare decisions among people living with the condition.
Healthcare experts at the outreach stressed that comprehensive and consistent care remains one of the most effective ways to manage sickle cell disorder, noting that access to quality medical care, counselling and psychosocial support can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the frequency of health complications.
The event attracted prominent figures from the healthcare, entertainment, corporate and non-profit sectors, highlighting growing multi-sector collaboration in advancing sickle cell advocacy in Nigeria. Among those in attendance were SAMI Programmes Manager, Maureen Nwachi; reality television personality, Mensan Awaji James; Afrobeats star and founder of the Adekunle Gold Foundation, Adekunle Gold; Nigeria’s first female cardiac physiologist, Fola Akinrinlola; SAMI Board Chairman, Foluso Phillips; founding partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, Femi Olubanwo; and SAMI Communications Officer, Abayomi Oyelami.
The outreach also honoured the memory and enduring legacy of the late Toyin Ibidunni Adesola, fondly remembered as the “Sickle Cell General,” whose advocacy transformed awareness and support for people living with sickle cell disorder across Nigeria.
Speakers at the event called for sustained investment in healthcare access, public education and stronger support systems for sickle cell warriors, noting that many patients still struggle to obtain quality medical care due to financial constraints. They also urged Nigerians to embrace genotype testing, early diagnosis and preventive healthcare practices to reduce the burden of the disease.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of sickle cell warriors, advocates, volunteers and supporters participated in the annual Red Umbrella Walk, one of Nigeria’s foremost awareness campaigns for sickle cell disorder. This year’s edition was dedicated to the memory of Toyin Ibidunni Adesola, the late founder of SAMI, whose pioneering efforts established the Red Umbrella Walk as a nationally recognised platform for sickle cell awareness.
Participants described the walk as both a celebration of the progress made in sickle cell advocacy and a tribute to a remarkable woman whose life’s work was dedicated to improving healthcare access, dignity and opportunities for people living with sickle cell disorder.