The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, has provided financial support and health insurance enrolment for people living with sickle cell disorder and albinism in the state.

Otti announced the intervention on Friday during the Care and Fair Outreach Day organised by her Safe Tent Care Initiative in Umuahia, with the theme “Care, Inclusion and Dignity.”

She said each beneficiary would receive N50,000 as immediate support, while the more sustainable intervention would be facilitating their enrolment in the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme.

Otti said she had met representatives of the two communities in January, listened to their concerns and assured them that her office would support them.

She said people living with sickle cell disorder required access to regular healthcare, counselling, referrals and continuity of care, while those living with albinism needed skincare and sun protection, regular eye examinations, vision support and timely medical attention.

The First Lady said the initiative would also address stigma and barriers limiting access to opportunities, adding that beneficiaries would be included in skill acquisition, livelihood and economic empowerment programmes.

She said the objective was to provide immediate health support while creating opportunities for beneficiaries to become more economically independent.

The Commissioner for Health, Enoch Ogbonnaya-Uche, said the state government had brought sickle cell disorder and albinism into greater focus within its public healthcare efforts.

He commended the initiative for drawing attention to the needs of the affected communities and promoting a more inclusive approach to healthcare.

The event also featured health education sessions for people living with sickle cell disorder and albinism, with specialists providing guidance on managing the conditions and accessing appropriate medical care.