In a remarkable display of advocacy and personal dedication, Nigerian music star Adekunle Gold has launched a free health insurance programme aimed at supporting 1,000 individuals living with sickle cell disorder in Lagos State. The initiative, titled 5 Star Care, was unveiled in commemoration of World Sickle Cell Day.
Driven by his personal experience with the disease, the award-winning singer said the project aims to ease the financial strain on affected families and guarantee access to both emergency and long-term healthcare.
“Every life deserves 5-Star care,” Adekunle Gold said during the launch.
“I know this because I have lived with sickle cell all my life. I know the pain, the prayers, the strength it takes to smile through it.”
The health coverage will be fully sponsored by the Adekunle Gold Foundation and managed via the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA). Other collaborators include the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI).
Speaking on the partnership, LASHMA officials said the collaboration represents a critical step toward making quality healthcare accessible for vulnerable populations.
According to Adekunle Gold—whose 2023 hit song Party No Dey Stop became an anthem of resilience—the foundation is also expanding its impact beyond healthcare.
“We’re working with researchers at New York University (NYU) to study how music, storytelling, and creative platforms can be used to improve the lives of people with sickle cell,” he added.
Nigeria remains the global epicentre of sickle cell disease, with over 150,000 babies born with the condition annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Medical professionals warn that in addition to the physical toll, the disease comes with serious psychological consequences. A recent study revealed that 35 per cent of individuals with sickle cell suffer from depression—nearly nine times higher than the rate in the general population.
The 5 Star Care programme is the latest in a series of interventions spearheaded by the Adekunle Gold Foundation, which continues to push for greater awareness, policy attention, and compassion for Nigeria’s sickle cell community.
