Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo has affirmed her support for for people living with sickle cell anemia.She urged couples intending to get into marital union to check their genotype in order to save their children from avoidable health crisis.
Mrs Soludo who made the call in a statement released in Awka, the state capital to mark the 2023 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, explained that being indifferent to vital pre-marital health checks, will only bring emotional and health trauma to the affected family, while affecting a child’s dreams of a fulfilled future .
The first lady noted that intending couples must prioritize their health compatibility requirements, as well as other important health assessments that are paramount to the family’s overall future, and that of the society around them.
According to the governor’s wife, those who disregard those essential steps, out of any reason, have only created avoidable health risks and an unhealthy social circle.
She regretted that despite the efforts being made to cut down the number of children born with sickle cell anemia and other perinatal sicknesses, especially in Anambra State, some people still pay less attention to the risks of getting married without due health compatibility assessment.
While reaffirming her support for people living with sickle cell disease , especially in Anambra State, the governor’s wife explained that having the disease does not consign one to death and that anyone living with it can still pursue their life’s goals.
Mrs Soludo, however, called on parents, health awareness crusaders, social and religious groups, to do more in educating people on the inherent dangers of going into marital relationships without having proper genotype and blood group checks.
The governor’s wife noted that though Anambra State has a comparatively less number of children born with sickle cell disease, efforts should be sustained to bring down the number to zero.
However, World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD), is observed every year on June 19.This year 2023, the World Sickle Disease Day theme is “Building and strengthening Global Sickle Cell Communities, Formalizing New-born Screening and Knowing your Sickle Cell Disease Status”, a call to recognise the first step (understanding the genotype in infants and adults) in fighting sickle cell disease.
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