Every Child
Deserves to
Live
Pain-Free
Sickle cell crisis pain has been rated 10× more intense than labour pain — but it’s preventable.
We’re on a mission to educate and screen 10,000 underserved public secondary school students across all 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos State by 2030
— completely free of charge.
Who We Are
About Us
The Anisa Sickle Cell Foundation (ASCF) is dedicated to reducing sickle cell disease in Nigeria. Through the I AM SICKLE CELL SMART project, we focus on sickle cell trait education, prevention, and
free genotype screening for students in underserved communities.
What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that affects millions of people globally. It occurs when both parents carrying the sickle cell trait (like AS genotype) reproduce, with a 25% chance of passing the disease to their children.
Our Mission
Through the I AM SICKLE CELL SMART project, we educate young students about sickle cell disease and the importance of knowing their genotype before marriage, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future and their children’s health.
Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world. Every year, approximately 150,000 children are born with the disease, and many don’t survive past age five without proper care.
By educating young people and providing free genotype testing, we can dramatically reduce these numbers and save countless lives for generations to come.
Sickle Cell in Nigeria
25%
Healthy Nigerians carry the trait (AS)
150K
Babies born with SCD yearly
#1
Highest SCD burden globally
100%
Prevention possible
Our 2025 Impact
Making a Real Difference
Our Journey Across Lagos
On sickle cell prevention in 2025
First-time genotype knowledge
Apapa, Lagos Mainland, Surulere
Event Gallery
Moments from Our Screening Events
See the impact of our work across Lagos communities as we educate and screen students for sickle cell disease.
Watch Our Story
See the Impact in Action
Watch how we’re transforming lives through genotype awareness and education across Lagos State.
Join us in our mission to educate and screen 10,000 students by 2030
Success Stories
Voices of Impact
Hear from teachers, students, and families whose lives have been touched by our sickle cell awareness program.
“This initiative is the best, I wish you can replicate this in our senior secondary school, some of our female students get pregnant without even knowing their genotype”
Principal
Sari-Iganmu Junior High School
“Before the screening, I had no idea about my genotype. Now I understand how important it is to know before starting a family. Thank you ASCF!”
Student, 14 years
Sari-Iganmu Junior High School
“My daughter came home and explained everything about sickle cell to us. We as parents learned so much through this program. Every school needs this.”
Parent
Obele Community Senior High School
How It Works
Our Simple Process
We bring awareness and screening directly to schools, making it easy for every student to learn about and know their genotype.
01
School Selection & Education
We select public secondary schools in underserved communities and visit them to educate students about sickle cell disease, genotypes, and why knowing your status matters for future family planning.
01
School Selection & Education
We select public secondary schools in underserved communities and visit them to educate students about sickle cell disease, genotypes, and why knowing your status matters for future family planning.
01
School Selection & Education
We select public secondary schools in underserved communities and visit them to educate students about sickle cell disease, genotypes, and why knowing your status matters for future family planning.