FACES introduce Friendly Society to aid “Sickle Cell Warriors”

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from one’s parents and results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin (haemoglobin S) found in red blood cells. In Guyana, there are a number of persons suffering from the disease and in order to make their lives a little better, non-governmental organisation Fight Against Sickle Cell Stigma (FACES) has set up a friendly society to assist them.

Sabrina Kazim – a sickle cell warrior – in June of 2015 founded FACES to address the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease.
Kazim said since its formation, the organisation has been able to host a number of workshops with various Ministries ad agencies. She added that they are also in the process of ascertaining the guidelines and protocols for sickle cell treatment at medical institutions since quite often, sicklers are not taken seriously.
“Because of the involvement of opioids in the treatment for sickle cell, persons in the medical field believe that persons with sickle cells are most of the times malingerers and that they are not really in pain, their pains are not authentic,” she said.
Kazim said that due to the stigma attached to living with sickle cell disease, persons are quite often tempted to take their own lives to ease the pain. “Sickle cell disease have at least a threefold part, the psychological, the socio economical part, psychological which does affect persons with sickle cell disease and recently at least one of our members tried to commit suicide because of all the trials and tribulations that is attached to this disease,” she informed.
She added that they are currently engaging the Social Protection Ministry so that they would be able to alleviate the psychological pressures of living with the disease through regular counselling sessions.
As of now, the organisation offers support to its members through social media and face-to-face interaction.
Kazim noted with the introduction of the Friendly Society, the organisation would be in a better place to lend assistance. However, she explained for FACES to continue assisting the 89-plus sicklers on its rooster, donations are necessary.
“We are appealing to the businesses to make donations as well as private citizens. So far we have one donor and we are seeking to distribute hampers to our sicklers on a monthly basis,” Kazim said.
She noted that they have member who are the sole breadwinners of their families and when they are in “crisis”, their families suffer.
In addition to the Friendly Society, FACES has also established the Humans Across Diversities Everywhere (HADES) Foundation aimed at providing support services to men, women and youths.