The Nigerian Medical Association of Nigeria (NMA), has advised Nigerians to know their genotype before getting married to avoid incidences of sickle cell disease.
The Edo State chairman of the NMA, Dr. Valentine Omoifo made the call yesterday in Benin during the sickle cell day’s celebration in Benin.
“We advised people to know their genotype so that if they happen to be carriers, they will not marry another carrier too, they will not have children that will be sufferers because children who suffer from it go through traumatic experiences that eventually keeps the family from being happy,”
Dr Omoifo described sickle cell as the disease that affects all organs of the body which could lead to several complications like bone damage, renal and kidney failure, stroke, blindness and seizures.
He appealed to the federal government to invest more on the training of specialist doctors for the management of sickle cell disease sufferers.
” The association’s aim is to try and curtail the disease as much as possible because of the numerous complications it can cause. We want government to be more proactive, encourage and sponsor health education, campaign programmes, starting from elementary school.”
“The government can even incorporate health education into basic school curriculum to enable pupils learn about their health from early age, so that as they grow, they will get to know about their blood groups and the importance of such in their future life,” he said.
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