#World Sickle Cell Day: NGO Urges Students To Know Their Genotype

Sickle Cell Anemia

An NGO, Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF), through its projectsn “Know Your Genotype and Operation Catch them Young” admonished students of secondary schools in Olomi area of Ibadan as part of the campaign against the sickle-cell disease.

The World Sickle Cell Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 in order to increase awareness about the sickle-cell disease and its cure.

Addressing the students, a medical doctor, Dr Taiwo Aderemi said the burden of sickle-cell on the nation can be alleviated if people took the pain to find out their genotype before procreation.

“Sickle cell disease is an inherited genetic blood disorder, with Nigeria having the highest burden of the disease.

“Sickle cell disease is a debilitating condition which can lead to severe health problems like pain, organ damage or failure, infections, stroke, headache, liver problems and so many others,’’ he said.

Aderemi, a family health physician, said that sickle-cell disease could affect any child irrespective of social and educational status.

According to him, sickle-cell disease remains a major public health problem in the country due to the low-level of awareness.

“We are here today to create sufficient awareness and understanding on sickle-cell disease.

“We want to let our young ones know that sickle-cell disease can be controlled if they make informed decisions before choosing partners.

“There is no better time to create awareness than as they are growing up they are also advancing in knowledge.

” If they know their genotypes as they are growing up, they will be able to make informed decisions later in life.

“They don’t have to wait till they are about to get married before they know their genotypes and that way we can reduce the number of children born with sickle-cell disease and protect the future generation,” he said.