Life expectancy in Nigeria is currently at 54.81 years, meaning that’s the median age at death for Nigerians. It is, therefore, intriguing when those considered not so healthy live beyond that age, even outliving the “healthy people”. It is probably for this reason that the story of Ashata Onikoyi-Laguda is catching attention across the world.
At 95 years, she was one of the oldest (if not the oldest) survivors of the sickle cell disorder across the world, a rare feat because the maximum age for people who live with the sickle cell disorder is 50 for male and 40 for female.
With the milestone, Ashata, who was discovered to be a sickler at age three, cheated death and lived longer than most healthy Nigerians until her death on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 95 years.
The deceased, strongly believed to be the world’s oldest survivor of sickle cell, was a mother of five, with many grand-children and great- grand children, despite being in a challenging environment like Nigeria.
Her longevity was an intrigue and a feat, which many sufferers of the disorder only dream about.
In an interview with BusinessDay before her death, Ashata recalled her experiences and how she had managed to survive the frightening sickle cell disorder.
“I have been living with this disorder and have been able to manage it. What I will say is once you are diagnosed as a sickler, keep warm, do not go in the rain, eat well and drink enough water. Do not over do anything; sickle cell disorder is not a death sentence or condemnation. No, it is not,” she said.
“As Nigerians, we should take care of ourselves. As families, let us help one another. Sickle cell is no problem again because we have learnt and we have better understanding now “
Her family belongs to the royal house of the Onikoyis of Lagos Is- land, Lagos State.
She was the first child of her parents and attended Queen’s College in 1948 at the age of 13.
“I could not start school earlier because of the disorder and when I started, everyone knew I had sickle cell disorder. It was not hidden in any way,” she said, explained her early drawbacks despite coming from a royal house.
As a sickler, her most searing memory was the crisis time. “When I have crisis, I will not be able to stand, use my hands, legs and eat. But thank God I overcame all that. So, the sad side of a sickler is when you have crisis,” she said.
Ashata went on to study Short- hand/Secretarial Studies at Pitman College, England.
On her return to Nigeria, she was employed as a secretary to the managing director of Africa Alliance Insurance. She left there for the Armed Forces Medical Service where she still worked as a secretary. Ashata had great opportunities there and was nominated to lead people to Hajj and lesser Hajj on several occasions.
Ashata lived her life the normal way despite her condition.
“Till now, I still take care of my family even with the condition,” she said.
“When I travelled out of Nigeria, I went to England. I did not go out to look for a cure or treatment but I went to study,” she recalled.
She told BusinessDay that she was discouraged by many from travelling.
“I was told that the foreign land is too cold, but I told my mother that people are living there and that God will keep and take care of me.
I went and I spent five years, did those things I usually do, keeping warm and going to the hospital and taking my medications,” she recalled.
Ashata advised that “if you want to get married just make sure that you are not SS as genotype. Also, AS genotype should marry AA instead of AS”.
“Sickle cell disorder is in the blood, it cannot be manipulated, and it is God’s work. Parents who have such children should show more love and care, support them and make them have the best of life and exposure,” she said.
“Sickle cell disorder is God’s work, if you know about it, try to avoid it but if you know somebody is SS and go and marry SS, you will go for the trouble.
I don’t see problem with sickle cell disorder again, people are now well-read and have better understanding of genotype selections,” she told BusinessDay.
She wished government could do more in order to alleviate the sufferings of sicklers in Nigeria because a lot of people who live with sickle cell disorder do not have money to take care of their health.
“As Nigerians, we should take care of ourselves. As families, let us help one another. Sickle cell is no problem again because we have learnt and we have better understanding now,” she said.
