10-40% of the Nigerian population carries the sickle cell gene, with an estimated 150,000 children born every year with sickle cell anaemia.
AS the world celebrated the year 2023 World Sickle Cell Day, the Alimosho General Hospital joined its counterparts across the world to celebrate the year 2023 World Sickle Cell Day with an awareness campaign at the Igando Community High School.
The Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Ayodapo Soyinka, who was represented by the Director of Clinical Services and Training, Dr Jane Bakare, while addressing the students at the event on Monday, June 19, 2023, with the theme “Shine the Light on Sickle Cell Disease”, reiterated the essence of the annual event and the need to deepen students’ knowledge about the disease.
Dr Soyinka declared that the event aims to create proper awareness of Sickle Cell Disease, emphasising the ultimate need for early Genotype Testing, disease management, and support.
On her part, a Consultant and Head of the Haematology Department in the Hospital, Dr Adebukola Orolu, said that World Sickle Cell Day is designed to enlighten the general public about Sickle Cell Disease as a Public Health concern, adding that Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited chronic blood disorder which causes rigid red blood cells with abnormal sickle shape, decreases the red cell flexibility, and causes blockage of blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body, thereby causing various sickle cell disease complications.
She advocated Genotype Testing for intending couples and early testing in newborns, saying that 10-40% of the Nigerian population carries the sickle cell gene, with an estimated 150,000 children born every year with sickle cell anaemia.
