The Adekunle Gold Foundation successfully hosted its quarterly sickle cell medical outreach on Saturday, March 14, providing essential healthcare services to over 400 individuals living with sickle cell disease in Lagos in partnership with SAMI (Sickle Cell Advocacy & Management Initiative).
The outreach delivered a range of critical medical interventions and clinical services for patients managing the lifelong condition. Services provided included specialist medical consultations, diagnostic laboratory testing, blood transfusions for patients with severe anemia, pain management and crisis care, physiotherapy support, and the distribution of essential medications used in the management of sickle cell disease. Patients also received prescription medications and treatment supplies designed to support their care for up to three months.
Sickle cell disease remains one of the most common genetic diseases globally, yet it continues to receive far less international attention and funding than many other conditions. Nigeria carries the largest burden of sickle cell disease in the world, with millions of people living with the condition and thousands of children born with it each year.
The Adekunle Gold Foundation was established by award-winning Nigerian musician Adekunle Gold, who has lived with sickle cell disease since childhood and has become a leading advocate for greater awareness, improved healthcare access, and research.
“Living with sickle cell disease is something I understand personally,” Adekunle Gold said. “It’s not just the physical pain, it’s the constant need for medical care and support that many people simply cannot afford. Through the foundation, we want to ensure that more people living with sickle cell disease have access to the care they need to live full and healthy lives.”
Beyond its medical outreach program, the foundation is also working to address long-term healthcare access for patients. In 2025, the organization launched the 5 Star Care initiative, which provided 1,000 individuals living with sickle cell disease with free health insurance coverage. The program was implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Health Management Agency, helping patients gain sustained access to care within the state’s healthcare system.
The Adekunle Gold Foundation is also working internationally through a partnership with researchers at the New York University Department of Global Health to explore new interventions and solutions that can improve treatment and quality of life for people living with sickle cell disease.
Through medical outreach programs, healthcare access initiatives, and global research collaboration, the Adekunle Gold Foundation continues to bring attention to a disease that affects millions while providing direct support to those living with the condition.
While Adekunle Gold is widely celebrated for his global music career, his advocacy work reflects a deeply personal commitment to improving the lives of people living with sickle cell disease.
