Health

Why newborn screening, genetic counselling are better before marriage decisions

A don, Professor John Olaniyi, has said that newborn screening and genetic counselling for sickle cell disease are effective for informed marriage decisions, but many marriages in Nigeria lack testing, and accredited laboratories often give incorrect results.

Professor Olaniyi, in his inaugural lecture at the University of Ibadan, entitled “Blood Cells Eccentricity: Looking Out and Looking After the Afflicted,” declared that from studies, newborn screening and prenatal screening for sickle cell disease are highly acceptable to many people in Nigeria.

The don said a study on the acceptability of newborn screening for sickle cell disease revealed that the most acceptable form of screening was the one done before marriage, while the least acceptable was prenatal diagnosis.

According to him, despite this, the observation was that more awareness needs to be created among those with less education and in some religious groups to increase the level of acceptance among Nigerians.

Professor Olaniyi also made a case for making point-of-care testing, with high sensitivity and specificity, available in health centres in all local governments for screening of haemoglobin types and early diagnosis of sickle cell disease.

In addition, “as regarding the currently existing diagnostic technologies in our environment, there is a need for advanced diagnostic technologies with high sensitivity and specificity in Nigeria, particularly in diagnosing sickle cell disease.

“I recently saw a publication title, “No laboratory in Nigeria can diagnose my condition.” This lamentation comes from a sickle cell disease HbSB thalassaemia patient in the United Kingdom.

“This diagnosis cannot be made just using cellulose acetate haemoglobin electrophoresis, which is the standard haemoglobin phenotyping test available in most Nigerian hospitals and laboratories.

“The incident highlights the critical need to expand our diagnostic technology across the country. Our hospital/university research laboratories should explore public-private partnerships to ensure sustainable equipment and facilities to ensure the sustained provision of relevant equipment and facilities. It calls for investment in laboratory medicine in the country.

“There is currently a significant funding deficit in health research that requires immediate action. In the 21st century, Nigerian haematology practice should be given appropriate resources to ensure adequate management of pertinent illness situations.

“Furthermore, determining the specific type of the abnormal blood cells is a difficult undertaking in our environment. The importance of quick diagnosis and adequate treatment cannot be overstated.

“Unfortunately, most hospitals only provide us with a few instruments, and as a result, the practice of precision and personalized/customized medicine is far-fetched.

“To enhance the outcomes of our patients with haematology tumours, there is an urgent need, now more than ever, for significant investment in diagnostic capability in our laboratories.”

Sade Oguntola