Adekunle Gold unveils new health initiative for sickle cell warriors
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Nigerian Music Star Adekunle Gold Launches 5 Star Care Initiative to Support Sickle Cell Warriors
Afrobeats sensation Adekunle Gold has announced a groundbreaking health-focused initiative dedicated to improving the lives of individuals living with sickle cell disease in Nigeria. Through his non-profit organization, the Adekunle Gold Foundation, the award-winning singer unveiled 5 Star Care—a bold project designed to provide free, comprehensive health insurance to 1,000 Nigerians battling the condition.
The initiative was launched in observance of World Sickle Cell Day, and is being executed in collaboration with the Lagos State Health Scheme Management (LASHMA), the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), and the Lagos State Ministry of Health. Beneficiaries will gain access to a wide range of services including routine checkups, emergency care, and ongoing medical support, helping to reduce the financial and emotional burden faced by many living with the disease.
Adekunle Gold, who has been candid about his personal struggle with sickle cell anemia—especially through his deeply personal track 5 Star—shared that the program stems from a place of lived experience and empathy.
“Every life deserves 5-star care. I know the pain, the prayers, and the strength it takes to smile through it,” the singer said in an emotional statement.
The Adekunle Gold Foundation, long committed to advocacy and support for the sickle cell community, views this project as a significant step toward closing gaps in healthcare access for affected individuals. The foundation emphasized that this is just one aspect of its broader mission to empower sickle cell warriors through awareness, care, and education.
Nigeria continues to carry the highest global burden of sickle cell disease, with an estimated 150,000 babies born annually with the condition and 75% of global cases concentrated in Africa. Despite its prevalence, access to quality care and long-term support remains a major challenge for many.
In a bid to further expand support beyond clinical care, the foundation is also partnering with researchers from New York University (NYU) on a study that examines the mental health implications of living with sickle cell disease. The research will explore the role of music, storytelling, and creative expression in improving emotional resilience and quality of life for carriers.
Applications for the 5 Star Care program are now open and can be submitted via the foundation’s official website. The initiative is a heartfelt call to action—and a powerful reminder that through empathy and community-driven solutions, meaningful change is possible.
