Group conducts free genotype tests for 500 less privileged in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Sickle Cell Patients Health Promotion Centre, (SCPHPC), has commenced free genotype test for less privileged people in Kaduna.
Founder of the organization, Hajiya Baddiya Magaji Inuwa, stated this during a courtesy visit to the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF), yesterday in Kaduna.
She said knowing one’s genotype is the first step in reducing the menace of sickle cell anaemia, adding that many couples today go into marriage ignorantly without knowing their genotypes and end up producing sickle cell anaemia children.
Hajiya Baddiya expressed dismay that North is one of the regions most hit by the menace. She lamented that while government have spent millions of naira in combating poliomyelitis, HIV/AIDS and malaria; sicklers are left to their own plights.
“It is easy to identify a poliomyelitis patient, but a suckler is seen as a normal human being once he is not in crisis.
“The only person who can tell the pains of a sickler is the mother or medical personnel who takes care of him during crisis. But once the crisis is over, he looks like normal human being.
“As a mother of two sicklers whom one is late, I know what they go through, emotionally and financial implications to the family.
“I therefore wish to call on well meaning Northerners through this Forum which is grassroot oriented to join in the battle to stamped out the menace,” she said.