In Delta State, to better curb the increasing rate of Sickle Cell Anemia, the government made it compulsory for every newly-born baby to get screened within 48-72 hours after birth.
This was made known by Dr. Uche Okwe, a convener of sickle cell in the state while speaking at a one-day training exercise organized by the Delta State Ministry of Health for media practitioners in Asaba.
The training titled ‘Sickle Cell Control And The Role Of The Media’ is aimed to partner with the media in sensitizing the public against the challenges of sickle cell.
According to Dr. Okwe, the compulsory screening exercise became critical for the early detection of anemia and to help work out the situations associated with it, making it easier to manage such children thereby making them suffer nominal or no problem while they grow up.
Dr. Okwe stated that since it became mandatory, 2000 babies have been screened and 26 babies have tested positive.
She also disclosed that there are about eleven thousand persons living with sickle cell in the state, and treatment for sickle cell patients is free in the state through sickle cell clinics.
She appealed to the media practitioners to make the public know that the government has made the NNS mandatory in various health facilities to early detect any sickle cell disorder for prompt treatment and to let them know that it has become law in the state.
Dr. Okwe lamented over the ignorance of many people who still attribute sickle cell disorder to spirituality, advising that people should and must check their genotype before going into marriage.
She stressed that people should not tempt God by thinking of genotypes AS and AS could go into marriage without having a sickle cell child.
While giving suggestions for the presentation, Comrade Sonia Unobunjo, the Chairperson of women journalists in the state pleaded with Journalists to rally around medical officials to help curb sickle cell disorder in the society.
She urged journalists to see the fight against Sickle Cell Anemia as their own and ensure that they impact positively in the fight.
Other participants at the event also suggested ways of curbing SCD by teaching young people, from Primary School age, on the issue of genotype while others expressed the belief that religious and traditional institutions are also significant in the fight against SCD.
Giving remarks at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in Delta state, Dr. Philomena Okeowo advised that journalists should be mindful of how they report SCD, adding that said harsh and scary words should be discouraged.
“Sickle cell is not a death sentence, people have lived with it successfully because, with proper care, people can survive it,” she added.
