The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre in Ebute Metta, Lagos, Dr. Yewande Jinadu, has called for more enlightenment programmes on the importance of genotype screening, especially for intending couples.
She made this call at the inauguration of a new Sickle Cell Disorder Project Building in the premises of the hospital in Lagos on Tuesday.
Jinadu, who was represented by the Head of Clinical Services of the hospital, Dr. Rose Okwudiafor, said many Nigerians died from sickle cell disorder because they did not know their genotype.
She noted that Nigeria also had the highest incidence of the disorder in Africa.
This, she said, should provoke a positive line of action to increase awareness on the nature of the disorder.
She said, “Sickle cell disorder is a major health challenge that has caught the attention of the World Health Organisation because it affects over 100 million people all over the world and we have a high prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.
It is a disorder that must be given the global attention it requires.”
Jinadu said to improve the quality of care and awareness on the disorder, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the office of the Presidency on Millennium Development Goals, would inaugurate six national care centres for people living with sickle cell.
She added that these centres would be providing drugs at a subsidised rate for people living with the disorder to improve the management and survival rate of affected persons.
“Sickle cell disorder is a major public health concern that requires the involvement of the individual, community and the state to protect and promote health, “ she added.
Jinadu said SCD was no longer a death sentence, as, according to her, studies have shown that people with the condition live longer if facilities, medical personnel and drugs are available for its management.