SCAGO- Not Your Average NGO
WE ARE EDUCATING FOR LIFE
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario also known as SCAGO is not your average NGO. It started on June 14th, 2005 as Seed of Life Philanthropic Organization in memory of a brave young man- Sunday Afolabi. It has significantly contributed to the health and wellbeing of many Canadians tirelessly educating the community about Sickle Cell Anemia and its subsequent poverty; focusing more on how the incidences of these ailments could be reduced within the At- Risk communities.

Sickle Cell Anemia is a severe genetic blood disorder that affects the red blood cells. It causes the red blood cells to become hard and sickle shaped which makes it difficult for the blood cells to travel through the small blood vessels. While normal red blood cells last for up to 120 days, the red blood cells of a sickle cell patient last for only 10 to 20 days.

Some of the complications of this disorder include Acute Chest Syndrome, Serious Respiratory Infections, Aplastic Crisis, Painful Abdominal & Joint Crisis, Stroke, Blindness, Hearing loss, Hematuria, Painful Erections in males (Priapism), damage to vital organs of the body including Heart, Liver, Kidney & Spleen, and premature death among others.


SCAGO has various programs to reach the public some of which are speaking in Churches, Mosques, community events, organizing forums and seminars. It distributes its information leaflets at Medical offices, libraries, community centers and schools. It has established a scholarship fund to help youths who are living with Sickle Cell Anemia. A total of 10 youths has benefitted from the Sunday Afolabi scholarship grant to date. We encourage more community groups to sponsor this worthy scholarship grant.

SCAGO partnered with Jodal Health Care in 2008 to establish the Idera Emergency Grant for sickle cell patients or their caregivers in dire need. WE thank Jodal Health for stepping up to this initiative and helping us create the IDERA EMERGENCY GRANT*.

 Like many other issues affecting the community, Sickle Cell Anemia could be prevented. This could be achieved through Genotype testing which is a painless procedure that will determine if someone has this disorder or carries its trait.

Unfortunately it is not a routine test and must be requested at the doctor’s clinic. Knowing your genotype and seeking genetic counseling will help you make informed decision before procreation. This is the way out of not passing this disorder to the future generations. It is the way of saving our children the pain, agony, complications and premature death that comes with Sickle Cell Anemia.

Beliefs on Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication

• We believe that education is the cure to ignorance.

• We believe that even though there is no cure for Sickle Cell Anemia at this point, educating the populace with the goal of reducing the number of children born with this disease is a must.

• We believe in protecting our children and our future against the pain and agony of Sickle Cell Anemia
  through outreach campaigns and programs.

• We believe that less number of children and eventually less adults will have to live with this deadly disease if we keep on educating those who are in the procreating stage of their lives about Genes and Genotype testing.

POVERTY
Poverty is a disease that has ruined many lives and destroyed many homes. Yet most of the time, it is due to the lack of access to the right information or positive role models that could help to propel someone forward in their quest to succeed that has grounded many to the poverty state. It is also imperative to know that Sickle Cell Disease sometimes work hand in hand with Poverty. With many parents/patients missing many days’/weeks’ work days, the reason is definitely not far-fetched.

SCAGO'S INITIATIVE ON POVERTY
Currently SCAGO organizes a yearly community summit where employers and educators among other groups present to the general community ways of improving educational and financial well being. Many leaders have found this summit a must as they learn new ideas that would help their followers and members.

Beliefs on Poverty Eradication

• We believe that poverty could be reduced within our community if we educate people on how to set their minds on great things and use the right tools to achieve them.

• We believe that many are poor in the African-Canadian Community not because they chose to but because of lack of needed tools and information on how to succeed

• We believe that many could leave the poverty cycle and attain their higher heights.

 

Mailing Address:
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ont.
P.O.Box 73564
509, ST. Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON
M6C 1C0

Office Address:
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of ON
1280 Finch Ave W
Suite 517
North York, ON
M3J 3K6

Phone numbers:
Toronto: 416-745-4267
York Region: 905-750-0038

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