Experts have reiterated the importance of early diagnosis,
saying it can prevent many difficulties and ease treatment, thereby increasing
the chance of patient’s survival.
To this effect, Lagos
State, while marking the World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day penultimate
week, announced that testing for sickle cell
disease will soon become a compulsory part of the newborn screening programme.
Sickle cell disease and
sickle cell trait can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and can also be
diagnosed before the baby is born.
Speaking recently in an
interview, Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health in the state, said that the purpose
is to diagnose affected babies early in life and thus introduce timely and
lifesaving interventions that would manage avoidable suffering and possibly
prevent death. The test will utilise
blood from the blood samples used for other routine newborn screening tests,
Dr. Idris said.
It can show whether a
newborn infant has sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, the Commissioner
added.
The prenatal (before
birth) screening is done using a sample of amniotic fluid or tissue taken from
the placenta. The placenta is the organ that attaches the umbilical cord to the
mother’s womb. This test can be done in the first few weeks of pregnancy for
people who are at high risk due to their genotype.
The incidence of sickle
cell disease can be reduced if intending parents have adequate information
about genotype compatibility.
According to a survey
conducted in Abuja recently, 42 per cent of the respondents do not know what
genotype is. This information and genotype testing should be made accessible
through religious and youth organisations, the survey recommended.
There are four genotypes
in humans - AA, AS, SS, AC (AC being a variant of AS gene). Intending couples
should know both their own genotype as well as their partner’s genotype at the
early stage of their relationship before they are well rooted in love and
emotions. These can easily be
checked through a blood test.
The Lagos State Health
Ministry boss further noted that there is need to provide adequate safe blood
for transfusion to save and support lives. According to him, 104 donor
drives were carried out in various corporate organisations by Lagos State Blood
Transfusion Services (LSBTS) between 2016
