Nigeria: Education key to prevention of sickle cell disorder

Resumen: El elevado número de personas con anemia falciforme en el área de Ebute Metta de Lagos es bastante significativo, sin embargo, los esfuerzos por el Centro Médico Federal, Ebute Metta en reducir al mínimo el Treand está dando sus frutos.

The high number of persons with Sickle Cell Disorder in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos is quite significant, however, efforts by the Federal Medical centre, Ebute Metta in minimising the treand is yielding fruit. Disclosing this in a chat, Medical Director of the Centre, Dr Yewande Jinadu, said collective progress in management of the disorder was necessary nationwide.

Calling for greater awareness on the need for genotype screening and blood group testing, screening and counselling, Jinadu said advances in SCD management now makes patients with the disorder lives beyond 60 years. «In the past SCD patients were dying early, mostly before the age of five, but now, pre-mature death is being addressed. We now have patients growing much older and able to have their own children.»

Speaking recently during a community sensitisation programme and free genotype screening exercise organised by the hospital, Jinadu regretted that despite progress in treatment, too many people remain ignorant about the causes of the disorder.

«SCD is inherited and everybody needs to know there genotype. It’s a gene and it takes two people to produce it. A mother and father each gives a gene to the child, if the mother is AS and the father is AS, what it means is that a child can take one S-gene each from the mother and father to be SS or A from the mother and S from the father to be AS. That is why we are encouraging AS or SS to look for AA, because even if the child has one S-gene the other partner will be give the A-gene.»

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She hinted that the FMC has packages to alleviate the plight of people with the disorder, «Here, within 72 hours of birth, we give the parents the result of their child’s genotype. We also babysit a child for young parents whose children have SCD. «With government support, and donations from stakeholders, we are able to provide 50 percent discount at any point in time while 10 percent discount is given for surgical operations.»

Jinadu however calls on government to conduct nationwide genotype screening in all primary schools. «Sensitising young children about the importance of blood group testing will help reduce the incidence and burden of sickle cell disease. «There is need to encourage prompt report, to facilitate quick treatment. It’s cheaper, easier and less damaging if healthcare is given at the appropriate time.»