Shemau: Kano Gov,
Shemau: Kano Gov, Journalists Mourn Death of
Young Sickle Cell Awareness Campaigner
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Media
Practitioners, friends and associates have continued to mourn the
death of Kano based sickle cell activist Shemau Adam Imam, a level
400 Microbiology student, in Bayero University, Kano.
Shemau who is Chairperson of the Sickle Cell Community
in the State died on Friday night at Mallam Aminu Kano Teaching
Hospital, AKTH.
In a condolences message Saturday signed by the Chief
Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Abba Anwar, Governor
Ganduje described Shemau’s death as a suffocation in the fight
against sickle cell in the country.
Ganduje who described Shemau as a focused and
efficiently committed young lady, who believed in total service to
humanity, noted that she was an exemplary shining star as well as a
heroine whose death have created a huge gap within her family,
friends and sickle cell community across the nation.
Her footsteps were big enough to accommodate many feet
before the Sickle Cell community gets the most appropriate
replacement. We must encourage others to take a leaf from her many
contributions when she was alive. As young as she was, she achieved
many things in life. Things that were people-centred. May her
gentle soul rest in perfect peace.” The statement reads.
Speaking to Arewa
Agenda[1]
on her demise, the Publisher of Kano Solace based online newspaper,
Abdullatif Abubakar Jos, described Shemau as one of the most
outstanding sickle cell awareness campaign activists.
“I had several programs with Shemau when I was in
Freedom Radio and the last of her interview I listened to was the
‘Barka da Hantsi’ flagship program in the radio station where she
said her team and friends had decided to establish an association
that could take care of sickle cell patients because most people
that established such organizations do that for monetary gains and
they don’t support them. I have known Shemau for the last ten years
and she has consistently been at the forefront of ensuring that
Sickle cell patients are protected.”
Abdulatif prayed that her death should not impact
negatively on the Sickle Cell community because if it does, it
means that the spirit of what she worked for would be in vain.
In a Facebook post, Ibrahim Musa described Shemau as a
leader among the sickle cell warriors.
“She fought hard to raise awareness about sickle cell
disease. As the founder of an NGO, she was at the forefront of
galvanizing support for persons with sickle cell disease. When we
engaged several Islamic scholars on the need for premarital and
newborn screening of sickle cell disease, she made a powerful
speech (offhand) that forced tears out of the clerics. Her speech
was so touching and impactful to extent the hall was silent for a
couple of minutes, except for background sobs and cries. One of the
clerics was so touched that he quickly moved for the hundreds of
his colleagues at the meeting to adopt a resolution of making
premarital screening compulsory.
This was selfless and altruistic Shemau Adam Imam. We
take solace in that she lives through her good work. My condolences
to her family and the sickle cell warriors.” Musa wrote.
In his condolence message, the founder of Maryam
Abacha American University Maradi, MAAUN, Professor Adamu Abubakar
Gwarzo condoled with her family and the sickle cell community.
“Despite her sickle cell anemia health challenges,
Shemau, selflessly engaged government, enlightened public,
community and families for sustainable supportive system to sickle
cell patients in Kano and Nigeria.” Gwarzo said in a tweet.
Till her death, Shemau was a highly committed sickle
cell advocate and a board member of the sickle cell trust fund. She
is associated with the Community Health and Research Initiative
(CHR), Youth and Environment Development Assoxuation (YEDA), Adamu
Abubakar Gwarzo Foundation, Sicke Cell Community orgaistaions,
CITAD, Mufarka Youth Development Association, KANET, Kano Civil
Sociery Forum and many more Organizations
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of young writers from
Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National
Development through Positive narratives.