Mr Lanre Alege, a Pharmacist with the Univ. of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said this in a lecture delivered during June edition of the keep fit exercise for staff of the hospital at the Kwara stadium on Saturday to mark the June 19 Sickle Cell Day.
He described Sickle Cell Disease as a genetic disorder due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin in the red blood cells, called haemoglobin S (Hb S) instead of haemoglobin A (Hb A).
The red blood cells (Erythrocytes) may contain normal haemoglobin AA only, a mixture of A and S (Hb AS) or S only.
He said,
“Persons with AS haemoglobin have sickle cell traits, and are referred to as sickle cell carriers, while those with haemoglobin SS only (Hb SS) suffers from sickle cell disease.
“Those with AA are normal without sickle cell traits.
“Haemoglobin in the red blood cell is responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body,”
He further said, there is presently no cure for sickle cell disease, but the cost effective treatment exists for the pain and other aspects of the disease.
He listed the most important components of the treatment to include early interventions with analgesics, antibiotics, rest, good nutrition, folic acid supplementation and high fluid intake.
“At times, invasive procedures such as blood transfusion and surgery may be needed. Sickle Cell Disease is completely preventable,” he added.
Among the recommendations, he gave, for the prevention are that carriers should not marry AS or SS, education about inheritable nature of the disease.
He stressed the need for public education to determine genotype, so that incompatible people do not fall into love let alone marry each other.
Alege added that Churches and Mosques should refuse to join such people in marriage.
Source: (NAN)
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