for my training, i m going back to my hometown. it s also the place where i think i can make the biggest difference for thousands of people living with the disease. in taveta, almost a quarter of the population have the sickle cell gene. but those living with the disease receive very little support. ijoined a local group as they prepare to march on a nearby hospital. and demand better services for sickle cell patients.
for my training, i m going back to my home town, taveta. it s also the place where i think i can make the biggest difference for thousands of people living with the disease. in taveta, almost a quarter of the population have the sickle cell gene. but those living with the disease receive very little support. ijoin a local group as they prepare to march on a nearby hospital and demand better services for sickle cell patients.
80 million of us suffer with this disease across africa. we have to believe. the other day, i was telling one of my sickle cell advocates in nigeria that i am doing the marathon and she was like, she was like she was very, very upset. she was like, no! no! sickle cell patients have this thing of saying they can do this. you cannot do a marathon. lea, please! you cannot. so, of course i can. of course i can. and i will, so. yeah, i want to do that. not to show her because yes, i have a chip on my shoulder, but i want to live a normal life. i want to do these things that i want to do. i want to see where my body can can can stretch to, yeah? without snapping, of course.
as i can, hoping to drum up support for a specialist centre. thank you so much, mama. finally, after years of advocating, a special clinic for sickle cell patients in taveta is unveiled. all the battles, all the obstacles finally, we are here.
for me, this new clinic isjust the beginning of my mission to improve the lives of all sickle cell patients and families notjust in kenya, but all over africa. we re just getting started. this is not a marathon. it is it is not the one who who is the who is the winner, who runs the farthest or who runs the fastest will win. this is a relay race. and me, i know that i realise that this problem, i will not solve its entirety in my lifetime and the person coming after me will be you know, will have it easier and be able to take it even further. it s a beautiful morning in taveta,