Tanzania’s Sickle Cell Warrior: "I will keep doing good deeds every day"

By special reporter

A Sickle Cell [SCD] warrior, who is also the Founder and Director of the Sickle Cell Diseases Patients Community in Tanzania, Ms. Arafa Salim Said, has called on the community to continue performing daily acts of kindness, including helping others and even showing a smile, as these contribute to positive deeds every day.

Ms. Arafa Said made these remarks during a special forum organized by Good Deeds Day Tanzania, aimed at empowering and inspiring participants about the importance of good deeds in supporting the community.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Ms. Arafa stated: “I love doing good deeds because in this world, everyone comes with a purpose. I enjoy helping people achieve their goals. I also enjoy working with Good Deeds Day because one of my roles in life my purpose of helping the community is fulfilled through them.”

Additionally, during the forum, Ms. Arafa Said shared her personal story and the various efforts she has undertaken to support the community of people living with Sickle Cell in the country.

“As we know, for a child to be born with Sickle Cell Disease, they must inherit the genes from both parents. I was diagnosed at just eight months old after birth,” Ms. Arafa Said said.

She highlighted that due to the challenges of limited awareness about Sickle Cell, she decided to volunteer to educate the community, fellow heroes, and caregivers on how to manage the condition.

Arafa urged Sickle Cell heroes in the country to continue fighting their circumstances without giving up, emphasizing that the disease should not be a barrier to achieving life goals.

“We, as Sickle Cell Heroes, must accept and believe in ourselves because life does not end here. My call to the community is to come forward for early Sickle Cell testing but also to avoid stigmatizing Sickle Cell patients,” Ms. Arafa Said added.

Good Deeds Day, as an umbrella for volunteer initiatives, aims to contribute to sustainable development while considering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], including environmental conservation, community well-being, gender equality, good health, education, and poverty reduction, with the goal of creating positive outcomes and improving people’s lives in general.

The forum brought together 50 participants from various institutions, aiming to provide guidance, motivation, and knowledge on implementing good deeds in the community.

For the year 2026, Good Deeds Day activities are guided by the slogan: “Let’s unite in performing good deeds”, in line with the global celebration of 20 years since the initiative’s inception, which carries the broader slogan: “Let’s come together to do good deeds from the heart.”

According to the founder of Good Deeds Day Tanzania, Doroth Namuhisa, these are global initiatives involving approximately 4.5 million people across 115 countries, where everyone from individuals, institutions, and governments to organizations is encouraged to participate in daily acts of kindness.

It is noted that the climax of the Good Deeds Day celebrations is held annually on April 12, a day set aside to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate the efforts of individuals and institutions volunteering to improve the lives of communities.

Good Deeds Day is a volunteer movement aiming to contribute to sustainable development goals, including environmental conservation, community well-being, and generating positive impacts that improve people’s lives overall.