The President of a non governmental organisation, Gail Sickle Initiative has called for more public awareness on the importance of genotype compatibility to avoid having children with sickle cell disorder.
Miss Oluwafemi Ajayi who is also the founder of the foundation made the call at a press conference held in Lagos to brainstorm ways to stop sickle cycle and stigmatisation of those living with the disorder.
Miss Ajayi said a lot of people have ignored the need for compatibility because their religion assured them that faith can change genotype, urging the citizenry not to fall for this.
”According to the World Health Organization, WHO, Nigeria has the largest population of those living with sickle cell disorder and that calls for serious attention. There is need to stop the sickle cycle by creating more awareness and letting the public know the dangers associated with it.
”When your genotype is not compatible with your spouse, there is a possibility that you have children with sickle cell disorder. Having children with a disorder is like just going out of your way and bringing more challenges to yourself. When you ignore the law of science under the guise of faith, love and religion, you will be the one to bear the consequences when your faith fails,” she stated.
Miss Ajayi also frowned at the level of stigmatisation those living with the disorder had to go through in the country especially as it concerns job employment, recounting her experiences.
She urged employers in Nigeria to stop stigmatising those with disorders, calling on the government to bring in newborn screening to help children born with the disorder have immediate access to good life. She also urged the the victims not to see themselves as failures but believe in themselves knowing that God created them for a purpose.
”Some of my fellows are not entrepreneurs, can our employers have this mentality of reducing the level of stigmatization. Don’t disqualify me for a job just because I’ve got sickle cell. It’s not my fault that I have a disorder, I might be more competent than some of your staff that do not have disorder. Government should set up a good healthcare system, we need more centers of hematology and newborn screening,” Miss Ajayi said.
A Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Sulaiman Folorunso who said that sickle cell disorder has no cure but can be managed, wants couples to check and confirm their genotype compatibility before getting married to avoid producing children that would face pains in future.
According to him, ”the people with sickle cell disorder can marry if they are ready to adopt children without giving birth saying that religion or love does not change genotype.”
Dr Folorunso said; ‘though we cannot rule out the God factor, the truth still remains that before starting any relationship at all, it is better that those concerned should have their genotype done to confirm their compatibility. But if the couple will get married without having children, in that case, they can get married. In all, always think about the consequences of your actions.”
The conference was part of the activities to celebrate this year’s World Sickle Cell Day which was marked recently.
Highlights of the programme was the sensitisation visit to Sonchos Secondary School Lagos.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
Picture one: Members of Gail Sickle initiative.
Picture two: Sensitization visit to Sonchos secondary school Ogba.
Picture three: Interview with the founder and president of Gail Sickle initiative, Oluwafemi Ajayi.
Picture four: The founder of Gail Sickle initiative, Oluwafemi Ajayi speaking at the conference.
