Group takes sickle cell sensitization to major streets in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A group under the aegis of Sickle Patient Health Promotion Centre (SCPHPC), yesterday carried out an enlightenment and sensitization campaign to major streets in Kaduna state to create awareness on menace of sickle cell anaemia.
The team, which commenced the rally from their clinic located at Badarawa in Kaduna North Local Government Area, drove down to Malali, then to Rabah road, stopping at Arewa House, giving talks on the need for genotype test before marriage.
The group proceeded to the popular Anguwan Sarki bus stop where they were received by mammoth crowd who wanted to be enlightened on the cause of sickle cell anaemia.
At the scene, some of them were surprised when told that the disease is non-communicable and non-virus infection, rather it is a combination of two genotypes that cannot match each other.
Educating the people, founder of the Centre, Badyya Magaji Inuwa said the God created human beings with two genotypes which is A and S, and each parent has this in the blood group.
According to her, “during conception, a child picks one genotype from the father and mother. If the father is AA and the mother also AA, they end up having AA as children which is perfect. On the other hand if one parent is AA and the other is AS, they may end up having AA or AS children. But if both are AS, then there is danger of them producing children with SS which is sickler.
She added that ignorance is the major factor responsible for people giving birth to SS children.