Sickle cell patient, 51, advocates screening for intending couples before marriage

SICKLE cell anaemia is an inherited disease. If a person is born with it, steps should be taken to reduce complications resulting from. But it can be prevented as well if intending couples should go for genotype screening and counseling in order to know their genotypes before getting married to avoid having a child with sickle cell disease. This would go a long way in curbing the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia in our society.”

These were the words of Editor Africa Sickle Cell News and World Report, also President, Ikorodu Sickle Cell Club, and former publicity Secretary Sickle Cell Club, Lagos/Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria Mr. Ayoola Olajide, during Media Chat on Sickle Cell Disorder to mark his 51 birthday Anniversary in Ikorodu, Lagos.     Olajide who revealed that he was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia in 1966, at the age of two disclosed that Africa Sickle Cell News and World Report will make every edition of sickle cell news available online for free starting from January 2015 to strengthen sickle cell awareness in Africa and throughout the world and help reduce its spread.    He said: “I am the seventh among eight of my siblings; my mother was AS and my father was AS and I was the only one diagnosed with sickle cell disease among the eight siblings. During my school days I started conducting research on sickle cell, read different books to know more about the disease and that is what helped me to live up to this stage of life.     “Every body should know his or her genotype especially from primary school children to secondary schools; it would go a long way to reduce the spread of sickle cell disorder in Nigeria, Africa and world at large. People who are at high risk of having a child with sickle cell anemia planning to have children should consider genetic counseling. A counselor can explain the risk of likelihood of having a child who has the disease. He or she also can help explain the choices that are available. - See more at: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/features/science/190628-sickle-cell-patient-51-advocates-screening-for-intending-couples-before-marriage#sthash.0DPADtd4.dpuf