0
0
Early diagnosis of sickle cell in children has been identified as a veritable means to reduce incidences and complications that may arise from the preventable disease.
Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq stated this at a sickle cell screening and awareness programme tagged “Know Your Genotype,” which held at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin.
The programme was organised by the Ambassador Abdulrazaq in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and Concerned Medics Foundation.
In an address, Ambassador Abdulrazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, noted that Nigeria has the highest global burden of Sickle Cell disease with about six million people living with the disease and an annual birth rate of one hundred and fifty thousand.
She stated that young people, particularly adolescents, needed to be enlightened about sickle cell disease and to know their status early to make informed decisions about their health and marriage.
The wife of the Kwara State Governor also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to enlighten their followers about genotype and encourage them to know their status.
“I urge all religious leaders, churches, mosques, all faith communities, to use your sermons to encourage people to screen themselves and take informed decisions.
Parents, please start taking the responsibility of knowing the genotype of all your children, ensuring they have these documents with them as they go into adulthood.”
She stated that the emotional, economic and physical stress children with sickle cell face could be avoided if people knew their genotype early.
Ambassador Olufolake affirmed that her office had done various interventions, including free health insurance scheme, for children with sickle cell in Kwara to reduce the financial burden on their families.
“Imagine knowing that all you now have to battle with is your child’s health, not the money to procure drugs for your child.”
Earlier in a remark, the immediate past Chairperson of Concerned Medics Foundation, and Consultant Paediatrics, Dr Sadiya Gumi-Bennett explained that the initiative was borne out of concern to provide better care for persons with sickle cell disease.
Dr Gumi-Bennett who stated that over five hundred students in Kwara State had been screened so far, announced that the exercise would capture one thousand students.
She stated that the screening was being done with parental consent and that seven students diagnosed with the disease, had been referred to the hospital for confirmation and management.
Dr Gumi-Bennett appealed to the Government to make genotype testing compulsory for school age children as early diagnosis would check complications.
The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Toaheed Abdullah, who highlighted numerous health programmes and interventions by the State government, emphasized the readiness of the Ministry to partner organisations for improved wellbeing of adolescents.
Earlier, the Principal, Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Mrs Alanamu, commended the initiative and affirmed that it would enhance school attendance.
