Group takes sickle cell campaign to schools in Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Following 2013 publication by the World Health Organization (WHO) that 250,000 babies die of sickle cell anemia annually, non- governmental organization, sickle cell Patient Health Promotion Centre (SCPHPC) Kaduna has commenced a school to school campaign and enlightenment program to sensitize students on the need to go for genotype test before embarking on serious relationship.

The team which was in Zamani College yesterday admonished the studends, as future parents, to save their unborn babies of the agony of being sticklers by ensuring that they only marry people whose blood group is compactable to their own.

The guest lecturer Dr Fatima Mohammed of Barau Dikko Hospital, Kaduna, said sickle cell anemia is hereditary and can be prevented if people will only go for their genotype test before marriage.

“You as the future generation of Nigeria and as future parents I want to believe that you will not want your children to always be in and out of hospital and the only way to do this is very simple by goingfor your geno type test before you marry. Don’t make the mistake the old generation made because they lack awareness. We are here today to inform you that if you want it to be well with your children, know your genotype,” she said.

Speaking earlier, the founder of the Sickle Cell Health Promotion Centre, Hajiya Badiyya Magaji Inuwa, said for those sicklers that are already born there is little or nothing anybody can do even in the medical field , but added that young people can do much by going for genotype test before marriage. According to her, it is better to play safe and the safe word is, know your genotype.

In her own remark, the proprietor of Zamani College, Mrs Josephine Mohammed thanked the Centre for the enlightenment campaign.