Sickle Cell: The reality of Sickle Cell Anaemia

John and Rose met as casual friends at a particular forum and like a joke, the chemistry between them began to grow to a higher level, their affairs became more intimate and they thought of marriage. In a bid to know their health status, they went for a genotype test and unfortunately discovered their genotype was not compatible but because of the strong love they had for each other, decided to go ahead with their plans despite attempts to discourage them by family and friends.

Years later when infants with the dreaded sickle cell anaemia came into their union, their love became soared and led to heartbreak which finally resulted to broken home. John and Rose are just one among many couples who have suffered the pain associated with unions of sickle cell couples. Genotype is they genetic makeup of a cell, an organism or individual, usually with reference to a specific characteristics under consideration which usually comes in form of AA, AS and SS genotype. How many people know what category they fall into? While sickle cell anaemia (SS) is a inherited form of anaemia, a condition health experts say is caused because there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen through some one’s body.

This condition is usually associated with anaemia, episodes of crisis or pains in bones swollen hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed of genotype knowledge has brought a lot of so much on both the parents and the unfortunate child. It is advisable that if your genotype is AS, you have no business (sexual relationship) with anybody who is also AS, as you have the chances of giving birth to a sicklier (SS). Ignorance is a state of ignoring knowledge, education or awareness about something. Unlike illiteracy which is defined as having little or no education especially, unable to read or write, what you ignore has a huge chance of killing you. Knowing your health status is for better than silver or gold, knowing your genotype status breeds a healthy society.

Based on World Health Organization (WHO), indicates Nigeria accounts for 75% of infants sickle – cell case in Africa and 80% of infants deaths in the continent 200,000 infants are born with sickle cell in Africa every year; with Nigeria accounting for about three quarter of the births, sixty percent of the 200,000 may die as infants. Nigerians usually neglect anything that has to do with health. Most people go into relationship without the knowledge of what their blood group is, not to talk of genotype. With this alarming rate of incidence of sickle cell, it is incumbent on each and every one of us to get to know our genotype before venturing into any sort of relationship intended for marriage. From a religious perspective, a person could say that “Eledumare is able to do all things” and with that they venture into this marriage knowing they are not biologically compatible.

Avoiding Sickle Cell Anaemia

I am not disputing the fact that Eledumare is Almighty and can turn every situation around but same Eledumare hate ignorance that is why he said to always consult Ifa, “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge” You may think, generations in the past know little or nothing about this so called genotype and still had healthy children. Have you ever sat down to ask yourself what they referred to as Ogbanje in our African societies? Ogbanje were simply given to children whom those days had crisis every now and then whose source were unknown. It is not a spiritual case but a clear case of sickle cell anaemia, whose ignorance made them attributed it to a spiritual case. Just as knowing your HIV status is very important, so also is your genotype.

As this will help in reducing the increase incidence. Mark a 16 year old boy when asked his view said “I will advise every man and woman to know his/her genotype as this will help in curbing it”. He also lamented on the pains he goes through each time he had a crisis and wished his parent never gave birth to him. We need to be mindful of who we choose as future partners lest we end up like John and Rose, who even after discovering their genetic makeup and knowing they were not compatible still went ahead to get married, producing children that will suffer the SS condition throughout their lives.

Sickle cell can be reduced or possible eradicated if only we as individuals get to know our genotypes thereby not bringing children into this world to suffer all in the name of ignorance or love. Be wise, get knowledge, know your genotype and avoid wrong relationship that will lead to producing children with SS genotype. World sickle day is a special day set aside by the United Nations yearly, from 13th – 14th June to bring hope to the African child and you can support activities carried out by various non-governmental bodies, individuals or corporate institutions to encourage a person living with sickle cell anemia.

By Finti Dan’azumi Usman,
A 300 level student, Mass Communication Department, University of Maiduguri.