•Obassi
As the world observed the World Sickle Cell Day, SCD, survivor Tawo Obassi-Onor, who lost her brother to the disease, has urged the federal government to urgently mandate genotype counselling and testing during marriage registration.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence rate of SCD in Nigeria is between 20% to 30% of the global burden and 2% to 3% of the population suffers from sickle cell disease, reports The Nation.
The mortality rate for children reportedly ranges from 50% to 80%, and Nigeria is considered the sickle cell capital of the world, with 150,000 sickle cell births annually
In an open letter to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Onor, the Nguvu Change Leader said: “There is an urgent need to empower couples with vital information, enable them to make informed decisions and potentially prevent the birth of children predisposed to Sickle Cell Disease. Mandating genotype counselling and testing for all intending couples during the marriage registration process will not only educate couples about their genotypes but also alleviate the economic strain on families and the healthcare system.”
She said: “I was born with sickle cell anaemia and so was my immediate younger brother. I didn’t understand it was a problem until I understood we had to take certain precautions and medicines more than others to reduce frequent breakdowns. I was certain we would always overcome any crisis until my brother died. This had a huge impact on my life and my health because I was afraid I would die too. In the years that followed, I learnt more about this health condition so I could live better.”
The lawyer and author said many people, including adults, are ignorant and indifferent of sickle cell disorders, hence the need for FG to act quickly.
