OYO State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, has said that genotype testing can help with decisions about marriage, reproduction, and prenatal care, urging every Nigerian to get tested and take control of their health.
Dr Ajetunmobi, who spoke at the SCHAF Gifting Day and end-of-year programme, said genotyping is readily available, not expensive, and it can help them make informed decisions.
Ajetunmobi, represented by Dr Akinfemi Akinyode, a deputy director at the Ministry, said sickle cell disease occurs when two persons with the sickle cell gene get married and give birth to someone with the sickle cell gene.
She declared that having sickle cell genes comes with a lot of health challenges, which are absolutely avoidable if individuals have the genotype test on time and make informed decisions.
“It is very challenging. It is a long journey, a tedious one. But it is avoidable if one does his genotype on time. It helps to make informed decisions. I want to implore everyone who is not married to get to know their genotype.
“Now, peradventure, we have given birth to a child that has sickle cell disease. The child is not disadvantaged in any way aside from the health challenges that the child has. If you have sickle cell disease, you can become anything in life as long as you take good care of yourself,” the commissioner said.
Founder of Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation (SCHAF), Prof. Adeyinka Falusi, said SCHAF has been at the forefront of raising awareness about sickle cell disease, speaking against stigmatisation of people living with sickle cell disease, and through advocacy influencing policies and creating a better understanding of the challenges faced by those living with sickle cell disease.
She added that in terms of care, SCHAF supported numerous patients through access to free health insurance to cut down on spending on health issues and daily counselling and pain management services.
“We understand that the journey of living with sickle cell disease is long and difficult. And through our partnerships with hospitals, with doctors, and with healthcare professionals, we have been able to offer hope and relief wherever needed,” said Professor Falusi.
Prof. Falusi declared the commitment of SCHAF to being a catalyst for improvement in living with sickle cell disease, working with experts and institutions that share a vision of a world where sickle cell disease no longer holds families hostage.
At the occasion, 60 persons received N50,000 cheques tagged Ogundoyin Empowerment, while all persons with sickle cell disease received food items and medicines they needed for 3 months.
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