The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) awarded $200,000 in federal funding to increase vaccine uptake amongst Black Canadians
SCAGO awarded a $200,000 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada to support COVID-19 vaccination initiatives for sickle cell disease/Black communities in Ontario.
Toronto, ON − January 25, 2022 − The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) will receive funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, through the Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF), for the project “Improving Vaccination Acceptance within the Sickle Cell Disease/Black Community.”
SCAGO will receive up to $200,000 in federal funding for the project over a two-year period, to augment its COVID-19 vaccination initiatives for the sickle cell disease/Black community in Ontario.
SCAGO supports and advocates for Ontarians living with sickle cell disease, a painful and life-shortening blood disorder for which there is no universal cure, and that predominantly affects people of African descent. The IPF funds awarded will move the organisation closer to ensuring that families with sickle cell disease and the larger Black community have equitable access to COVID-19 facts and vaccination.
“Health equity in Ontario will be achieved when every Ontario citizen with sickle cell disease is provided with an equal chance at attaining their fullest health potential,” said Mrs. Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, SCAGO’s President and CEO. “This funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada will bring Ontario’s sickle cell disease/Black community closer to achieving a more equitable COVID-19 vaccination uptake and we are grateful for this opportunity.”
Despite being one of the groups that have been most affected by the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination rates amongst Black Canadians have lagged in comparison to the national average. The IPF helps to reduce barriers to vaccination in communities with lower vaccine uptake. Access to vaccines is of particular importance to vulnerable groups with conditions like sickle cell disease.
Quotes:
“I am so pleased that the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario will benefit from the COVID-19 Immunization Partnership Fund. This will go a long way in helping to fill the gaps for vulnerable Canadians suffering from sickle cell disease. This funding commitment is confirmation that the federal government is listening and recognizes the special circumstances in dealing with vaccines, by those already managing challenges to their health,” said Senator Jane Cordy.
“I am proud to congratulate the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario as one of the approved groups to receive funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Under the Immunization Partnership Fund, SCAGO will be aided in developing tools, training, and information for healthcare providers to counsel individuals on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines, as well as support community-based COVID-19 education, promotion, and outreach, said The Hon. Judy A. Sgro, P.C., M.P. “I am extremely proud of our current Liberal Government for stepping up in the fight against COVID-19 and actively working to ensure Canada recovers from the pandemic as strongly as possible. I would like to congratulate the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario for all the hard work and effort they have demonstrated over their many years, and look forward to seeing the opportunities this funding will allow the organization.”
“I have been friends with Lanre, the President/ CEO of SCAGO, since 2018 and she has been a tremendous advocate for people with sickle cell and thalassemia,” said MPP Andrea Khanjin. “She was a driving force behind Bill 255, the Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day and Thalassemia Awareness Day Act, and continues to push for more support for her community. I am thrilled that SCAGO has been approved by the federal government for funds for their COVID-19 immunization partnership, which will bring vaccines to people that are extremely vulnerable to this virus.”
“Recognizing that Ontarians living with sickle cell disease are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, the Province has prioritised vaccines for those at the greatest risk of severe illness, and for those who care for them,” said Rudy Cuzzetto, MPP for Mississauga-Lakeshore. “I want to thank SCAGO President Lanre Tunji-Ajayi for all her efforts to further address and reduce barriers to vaccine access and acceptance within the sickle cell disease community in Ontario. I’m confident that this federal grant, through the Immunization Partnership Fund, will help her, and other community leaders, in these very important efforts.”
“The leadership of the African-Canadian Social Development Council is excited about the funding awarded to SCAGO by the Public Health Agency of Canada. This project will be of tremendous benefit to our whole community and the Council is happy to be part of its execution,” said Kabu Asante, President of the African Canadian Social Development Council.
Quick Facts:
- The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) will receive up to $200,000 in funding over two years for its project Improving Vaccination Acceptance within the Sickle Cell Disease/Black Community.
- The Immunization Partnership Fund (IPF) supports projects that improve access to vaccines and encourage vaccine acceptance and uptake.
- The IPF is one tool of many that the federal government is using to help people across the country get vaccinated to protect themselves, those around them, and our health care system.
About the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO)
The Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) is a leading charitable patient organization providing evidence-based support to families with children, adolescents, and adults, with sickle cell disease across the four regions of the province of Ontario. It supports clinical research, engages in psycho-social research, health promotion, patients and care providers’ education, community awareness, and development of best practices and guidelines. Since its establishment, SCAGO has invested 100% of its resources in improving the quality of life of individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. It engages in evidentiary advocacy on their behalf with the government, schools, and the health care system.
Media Contact
Karla Watson
media@sicklecellanemiaca.live-website.com
