User talk:Nkechi Azinge

Nkechi Azinge is the Founder and President of the Sickle Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF), a Non- Governmental Organisation with a dual mandate to raise awareness on Sickle Cell Disorder and ensure that persons living with sickle cell have access to quality health care. Recently the SCAF carried out a survey to determine the level of awareness in the FCT and based on this survey, the foundation has embarked on free genotype testing, awareness and counseling in the 6 Area Councils in the FCT. As a personal project, Nkechi chose to create Sickle Cell Clubs in 20 Secondary schools in the FCT, within which she prepared a curriculum for the students and earmarked 20 schools from the 6 Area Councils in Abuja. The students are empowered to raise awareness in their immediate community and also raise funds to aid the indigent with sickle cell disorder (SCD) in their community. So far, Sickle Cell Clubs have been established in 15 Secondary Schools in the FCT. The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the FCT Secondary Education Board endorse the Scheme. Nkechi Azinge is known by her peers as an advocate for health care, particularly SCD which although a neglected field, is known to be one of the major causes of early childhood mortality in Africa. She uses social media to educate the masses both in Nigeria and other parts of the world about SCD. Nkechi, alongside two of her colleagues, is set to build a primary health care center in for the Gbayi people of Abuja at Anyatapi. The aim is to ensure that the persons in this community have access to health care, especially women and children who are the most vulnerable and susceptible to diseases. Nkechi is a group lead at the NYSC MDGs program. She is currently working to ensure that the members of the Gaube community are adequately sensitized and taught the need of sanitation. Her group is working towards constructing the first community toilet and creating a waste management system in this community. Her group is also working towards ensuring the sustainability of sole water source in Gaube. Nkechi has volunteered with various bodies such as the Silver Lining For the Needy Initiative, an initiative that carries out HIV/AIDs awareness and sensitization. She has volunteered for Amnesty International where she joined the campaign for the rights of women and children in war zones in the Middle East. She also volunteered for the British Red Cross where she worked hard to ensure that indigent women and children have access to food, a basic need. Her literary work, “Its Dawn as I write” which illustrates strength in Women taking control was published by the University of Leicester Narrative Research project. Her volunteering involvement in national and International organizations has given her profound knowledge and experience on matters relating to maternal health, HIV/AIDS, Child Mortality and the encompassing extent of the MDGs. Nkechi is currently serving at the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria. At the SEC she reviews and analyses regulatory legal issues and makes recommendations. She also researches into issues relating to Investment and Development in Africa. Nkechi Azinge is a graduate from the University of Leicester, UK where she studied Law and has been admitted to study International Economics Law at the University of Warwick, UK.