ISSN 2141-1093
The Ibekwes admit knowing their genotype before marriage, but went ahead anyway. Two of
the couple's 4 lovely children were born with sickle cell. Now, having known the disorder
firsthand, the family has established a Foundation to caution those on the outside looking in
and vigorously assist those right in the hard embrace of one of mankind's most unpredictable
genetic conditions.

Dabma Sickle Cell Foundation is actually an offshoot of 'Keeping Hope Alive'  a loose group of
families which over the years silently provided assistance for individuals facing the challenge
of sickle cell. Dabma's founder and board chairman, Emmanuel Dickson Ibekwe is a pastor
with the Deeper Life Bible Church in Lagos; the 'call' to transform Hope Alive into a full-fledged
Foundation came in 2008, during one of the lowest points in the Pastor's running battle
against the tide of repeated crises and complications in his children.

In his welcome address, Pastor Ibekwe called for concerted effort at every level to address the
problem of sickle cell and heal the wounds it has inflicted on society. He said the Foundation
was not in competition with any other Foundation in Nigeria, but was established to
complement whatever is already on the ground.

The inauguration of Dabma Foundation took place September 13 at the main auditorium of
the University of Lagos. The auditorium was filled to capacity with guests from all walks of life
including scd stakeholders and Ibekwe's friends and colleagues in the Christian ministry. The
Chief of Army Staff, General Azubike Ihejirika was represented by General Ogbonnaya Charles
Okoro. Also in attendance were members of the Dabma's Board of Trustees as well as media
gurus and members of the academic community. Mrs. Moronkeji Onasanya, Chairman, Skye
Bank Plc, was represented by the bank's head of corporate affairs, Mr. Kayode Akinyemi.

The book, Cruel Wounds Of Sickle Cell Anaemia is a chronicle of what Pastor Ibekwe calls
his family's 'bitter experience' of scd. He challenged other persons and families similarly
challenged to come out of their self-imposed closets into the open to tell their stories. This, he
said, would help place sickle cell in its proper perspective and counter the trivial impressions
of the disorder touted in some quarters.

The acronym, 'Dabma', is formed from Daberechi, the Ibekwe's surviving child with sickle cell
and 'Mama', the epithet used for Chidinma, the family's fallen heroine. She passed away a
year ago, aged 18, a student of economics at Bell's University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State.
COUNTING THE COST OF
DISOBEDIENCE: Family Turns Harrowing
Experience Into Lesson For All Nations
By Titi Aladei
He challenged other persons and families similarly
challenged to come out of their self-imposed closets
into the open to tell their stories. This, he said, would
help place sickle cell in its proper perspective and
counter the trivial impressions of the disorder touted
in some quarters
Pastor & Mrs. Dickson Ibekwe
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Remembering Adeseun
Ogundoyin: 1940 - 1991