By Paul Adunwoke
The co-founder of the EKO Hospital Group, Dr. Sonny Kuku, has said that sickle cell disorder is not a death sentence because it can be treated through bone marrow transplantation including other treatment and the patients will live normal live.
He said this yesterday, at the Annual Public Lecture on Sickle Cell Disorder, organised by Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, to mark World Sickle Cell Day in Idi-Araba, Lagos, adding that are people living with sickle cell that are more than 40, 50 and 60 years now unlike before.
Kuku, who was the Chairman of the event said sickle cell deaths haven been reduced because of improved preventions, early diagnosis, improvement in management with drugs, genetic therapy among others.
Kuku noted that in 10 years ago one would not see sickle cell patient who lived up to 40 years because many of them die before the age five.
He said Nigeria has the highest number of sickle cell patients because it highest population in black people adding that government need to put in place new-born screening for sickle cell.
He said government should put in place hospitals where sickle cell patients could get free medical treatment including free drugs because treatment for sickle cell is expensive.
Retired Hematologist and Transfusion at University of Lagos, and Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Ibironke Akinsete, said new-born babies should be screened because through this one can identify who is sickle cell carrier or not adding that when it is identify early the patient would be taken care of with out going through pains.
She said this would enable the parents to know how to take care of the child because knowledge is power especially at the community levels. “Intending couples should go for genotype screening before getting married to enable them to know their sickle cell status as this would help to reduce cases of sickle cell in Nigeria.”
Consultant Public Health Physician and the National Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Annette Akinsete, said 150,000 babies are born in every year in Nigeria, with sickle cell disorder. She said about 100,000 or more of these babies do not live till the age five before they died.
She noted these are preventable deaths caused by sickle cell out of ignorance of the parents, which is why it is necessary to create awareness about the disease. “Parents should to take their babies to hospital whenever they noticed signs and symptoms of sickle cell anemia or any other ailment”.
Source: The Guardian