From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A Sickle Cell Centre will soon be established in Delta State if activities at the state House of Assembly are anything to go by.
The House, at its last plenary, adopted a report on the bill for the establishment of Delta State Sickle Cell Center.
Presenting the report during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, chairman of the adhoc committee, Mr. Alphonsus Ojo said they expanded the spectrum of coverage by overhauling the entire bill.
He said the committee did that in order to present a bill to meet the aspirations of both Deltans and non-Deltans who are victims of the ravaging sickle cell disease and to be in tune with present best practice in health management in areas of control, prevention and management of sickle cell.
Ojo said in achieving the goals, the committee undertook a thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders including professional bodies, within and outside the state.
He said the committee paid a working visit to major sickle cell centres and establishments and collated memoranda from relevant groups, NGOs and the State Ministry of Health.
The committee, however proposed that certain amendments be made after a careful scrutiny of the proposed bill.
Meanwhile, the proposed bills for Delta State Public Occupational Safety Bill, 2017 and Delta State Manufacturing and Use of Deep Canoes Regulatory Bill, 2017 have been scheduled for first reading at the next sitting.