Former Director of Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Professor Adeyinka Falusi has revealed that the number of sickle cell carriers in the country may increase if nothing is done to facilitate early diagnosis of the ailment.
Falusi made this disclosure while delivering a keynote address during the public presentation of a book on sickle cell.
Falusi, who spoke at the event held in Ibadan, revealed that no fewer than four million Nigerians are sickle cell carriers.
She, however, warned that the number may likely increase by 2050 if nothing is done to facilitate early diagnosis.
Falusi called on the three tiers of government to facilitate the early diagnosis of sickle cell carriers to prevent complications.
She added that early diagnosis will facilitate treatment, care, reduce complications and death among carriers.
The University Don said poverty, lack of insurance, lack of awareness and medical care was responsible for the increase of this disorder.
She urged Nigerians to know their genotypes to guard against birthing sickle cell carriers while encouraging those born with the disease to be discouraged by their condition.
She said “I call on the three tiers of government to facilitate early diagnosis of sickle cell and prevent complications.
“Early diagnosis of the disorder would facilitate treatment, care, reduce complications and as well, reduce the death rate of sickle cell carriers.
“More than four million Nigerians are sickle cell carriers, the number might likely increase by 2050 if nothing is done on the issue”.
The wife of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Professor Amudalat Olaniyan advised people with AS genotype to desist from marrying one another to avoid giving birth to sickle cell children.
Olaniyan said, “It is unfortunate that we still find ourselves in this disorder; many had lost friends to sickle cell disorder and some of them are very brilliant, you can imagine losing people of that nature. We must always create awareness to discourage those that are not compatible from marrying themselves”.
