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Health

Ignorance, misconceptions increasing incidence of sickle cell disease – Expert

Ignorance, misconceptions increasing incidence of sickle cell disease – Expert
By Desmond Amanyi
Sickle Cell
Abuja, Sept. 26, 2018 (NAN) Dr Chioma Ofoekii, a medical practitioner based in Abuja, has identified ignorance and misconceptions as causes for increasing incidence of sickle cell in the country.
Ofoekii made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
“The number of patients with sickle cell diseases soars yearly and this is more in rural areas hence increasing death rates, especially children.
“People indulge in marriages with the wrong blood genotype combinations without being aware of the dangers it poses to their offspring.
“Main reason why we seem to have so many children with the SS genotype (sicklers) is largely due to ignorance on the part of the parents.
“If we had a choice to give birth, we wouldn’t want to give birth to children with the SS blood genotype and put them through the kind of suffering they go through.
“So if we can curb the level of ignorance through education that will go a long way to reduce the incidence and prevalence of sickle cell disease in our society,’’ Ofoekii said.
She emphasised the need for government at all levels to increase health awareness campaigns in order to educate people on the dangers of the disease.
According to her, this will go a long way in creating the needed awareness as well as inform students about the illness.
Ofoekii, however, expressed concern about the content of messages being taught in schools, noting that there are misconceptions.
“The teaching that if you have four children one will be a sickler, one will have the AA genotype and the remaining two will have the AS genotype is wrong.
“This is wrong because they do not teach the children that it is a probability chart for each pregnancy.
“What this means is that at each point in time when you are pregnant, any of the three genotypes can manifest in the child.
“So that means that it is possible for an AS couple to give birth to three children with either AA or AS.
“Another couple may not be that fortunate. They might end up giving birth to only sicklers.
“So it is not enough to say that we are educating our kids in schools but we should also look at the content of the education.
“People are often taught that out of four children only one will be a sickler that is the wrong teaching.
“Some people have banked on it to say we will now have only three children since the last one will be a sickler.
“If they understand that for each pregnancy, there is a risk of having a sickler, then they will understand that the risk is not worth taking’’ she said.
Ofoekii stressed the need for marriage institutions to include teachings about sickle cell as part of their programmes.
“This will help create more awareness to intending couples on the need to check their blood genotypes before proceeding to marriage.

“The churches, the mosques, the courts where people can register and get married. Some of these institutions have marriage classes for intending couples.
“It will be beneficial to include a course on blood genotype, the risks and all that it entails to these intending couples so that they know well ahead of time.
“It should also be made compulsory to have people run test to determine their blood genotypes before they enter into marriage.
“If it becomes mandatory, they will be forced to do it because some people claim ignorance saying that they were not told in their churches and so on.
“For those institutions of marriage that have adopted it, it is very commendable.
“And aside the practice of teaching about genotype, what is more important is teaching the right thing so we do not mislead people with the information that we give,’’ the medical expert emphasised. (NAN)
DA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

75% of sickle cell births in Nigeria don’t see their 5th birthday – Group

75% of sickle cell births in Nigeria don’t see their 5th birthday – Group
By Christian Njoku
Sickle cell
Calabar, June 20, 2018 (NAN) The Sickle Cell Support Network, an NGO, says Nigeria records about 150,000 sickle cell births annually but 75 per cent of this number never get to see their fifth birthday.
The President of the group, Dr Deborah Onokpono, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Calabar as part of efforts to sensitise people about sickle cell condition.
She said: “Sickle is a medical condition and not inflicted upon us by one spiritual force or deity, people are born with it and it is not contagious but inherited.’’
Onokpono said though we have what we call bone marrow transplant, which gives a patient a 50:50 survival chance, the condition had no cure yet.
She advised those who were about getting married to know their genotype and that of their spouses to be, as prevention was the best way to control sickle cell.
“Sickle cell is preventable if people with the AS genotype do not get married to spouses who also have the AS genotype,” she said.
She noted that the awareness is still low in Nigeria when you compare it to HIV and stigmatisation is high as the victims are seen as people who would die soon.
Similarly, a haematologist, Dr Ufon Esien, said the condition is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, so countries around this region should enhance the awareness of the condition amongst their citizens.
“Children with sickle cell normally had hand and foot syndrome, joint pains as they grew older, they may also have kidney problems, acute chest syndrome and even anaemia, these conditions were not curable but manageable,’’ the expert said.
Dr Esien however advised parents not to begin with analgesics that were highly addictive because the sickle cell patient may become addicted and that would take a difficult and long process to remedy.
Also, the President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Cross River chapter, Dr Jacinta Okoi-Obuli, said they came to let people know that there was nothing to be ashamed of if someone had sickle cell.
“Sickle cell is not something to be ashamed of because we have doctors and other professionals who have the condition but have succeeded in different spheres of life,” she said.
She added that MWAN was partnering with different laboratories in the state, so, they could simply take blood samples of people that wanted to know their genotype and provide credible results.
She advised people who wanted to check their genotype to find out the credibility of the laboratory as there were many quacks around.
“We have cases where people have done their genotype in three different labs and have three different results and they go ahead to get married only to give birth to children with sickle cell,” she said.
She stated that the notion that love was blind was no longer tenable, and advised would be couples to endeavour to know their genotype to prevent a future of pain.
On his part, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Cross River chapter, Dr Antigua Cobham, called on the Federal Government to invest in researches to discover a cure for sickle cell.
He noted that sickle cell was more in the tropics as Nigeria had the highest number of people living with sickle cell in the world while Cross River had the highest number of carriers in Nigeria.
“We must not always wait for the white man to carry out researches for us, this is more our problem now than theirs.
“Nigeria has the highest number of persons living with the condition in the world and Cross Rivers has the largest number of people with this problem in Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, Dr Inyang Achibong, the state Commissioner for Health, who was represented by Mrs Magdalene Nka, Director Medical Laboratory Services, Ministry of Health, said the state government was aware of the high rate of sickle cell in the state.
She said the idea of having a sickle cell centre in the state was not a bad one as such centre would subsidise the cost of the tests or even make it free.
“Now that the awareness is increasing, there could be policies made because looking at our policies, there is nothing specific about sickle cell, it is just general health, we can start looking into this as the awareness is growing,’’ she said
She added that medical personnel should know that when they saw a carrier, they would have to give their all, both love and expertise, as the victims did not make themselves that way but were born into it.
NAN reports that the world Sickle Cell Day is marked annually on June 19.
This year’s theme is “Sickle Cell: Past, Present and Future’’. (NAN)
CBN/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert recommends healthy nutrition in managing sickle cell

Expert recommends healthy nutrition in managing sickle cell
By Ummul Idris
Sickle-Cell
Abuja, April 26, 2018 (NAN) A medical expert, Dr Clement Wilson, on Thursday said consumption of water, maintaining balanced diet and high level of cleanliness is key in managing sickle-cell.

Wilson told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that a balanced diet and intake of dietary supplement could help strengthen the body immune system.

According to him, sickle cell is a disorder of the blood cause by an inherited abnormal haemoglobin (the abnormal haemoglobin cause distorted red blood cell).

He said getting the right nutrition on a daily basis will help children with sickle cell disease reach their full growth potential.

“It is important for them to stay healthy as possible, eating diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes helps to boost their immune system,” said Wilson.

He added that people with sickle cell anaemia do not have normal red blood cells which could lead to frequent fatigue.

“Though people with the diseases can play and exercise, but should avoid getting too tired, too hot or too cold, avoid being dehydrated.

“There is need to get plenty sleep, drink plenty of water and other fluids, especially during, before and after any form of exertion,” he said.

He advised patients to dress in thick clothing’s to avoid sudden temperature change while avoiding extreme temperatures such as cold, heat and rain.

Wilson also urged patients to avoid cigarette smoke, saying smoking and second hand smoke could reduce the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.

He further advised patients to acquire knowledge in managing the condition at home thereby recognising serious symptoms and when to seek medical care for severe pain. (NAN)
UMD/HS/MST
Edited by Halima Sheji/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Expert harps on sickle cell management

Expert harps on sickle cell management
NAN-HG-5
Sickle-Cell
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2017 (NAN) Mr Adesina Adetunbosun, Founder, Babajide Olowodola Foundation, a sickle-cell NGO, has advised sickle-cell patients to keep warm and avoid extreme temperature in the management of sickle-cell during harmattan.
Adetunbosun gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that cold and extreme temperatures could increase sickling and trigger painful event.
He said extreme temperatures such as dry, cold and dusty winds associated with harmattan season affects sickle cell anaemia patients thereby triggering crises in them.
Adetunbosun explained that sickle cell anaemia also known as sickle disorder or sickle cell disease is a common genetic condition due to a haemoglobin disorder inherited from both parents.
He said sickle cell is associated with a number of acute and chronic health problems such as infections, attacks of severe pain (sickle-cell crisis) and stroke, with an increased risk of death.
“Sickle-cell warriors must maintain cleanliness and dress in layers of clothes as cold temperature and unhealthy environment could trigger episodes of pain, fatigue and frequent infections.

“There is need for them to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, a balanced diet and dietary supplement to help keep their body immune system strong.
“It is important for them to stay healthy as possible, which means eating healthy foods and vegetables as well as getting enough sleep.
“People with sickle cell anaemia do not have enough normal red blood cells, which leads to frequent fatigue, hence the need for adequate rest.
“Children with the condition can play and exercise, but should not get too tired, too hot or too cold and should avoid activities that leave them excessively exhausted,’’ he advised.
He said severe childhood infection could be prevented by getting them fully immunised as well as maintaining personal and environmental hygiene at all times.
Adetunbosun stated that getting the right nutrition on a daily basis would further help worriers reach their full growth potential.
He cautioned sickle-cell warriors on excessive consumption of alcohol and cigarette, warning that alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration while cigarette smoke could reduce the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream.
Besides, he urged parents and guardians to acquire knowledge in managing the condition at home thereby recognising serious symptoms and when to seek medical care for severe pain. (NAN)
TIM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Foundation canvasses partnership, funding for sickle cell disease

Foundation canvasses partnership, funding for sickle cell disease

NAN-HG-1

Sickle cell

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja June 20, 2017 (NAN) The Sickle Cell Aid Foundation (SCAF) has called on the Federal Government (FG) to partner with institutions involved in treating sickle cell disease in order to curb the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria.

Dr Kanayo Collins, President of the foundation, made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to commemorate the 2017 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.

He said the government has a role to play in ensuring Nigeria becomes a sickle cell free society through partnership and subsidising healthcare for sickle cell related cases.

“It is paramount that the government partners with NGOs such as SCAF and other stakeholders in their activities and campaigns related to eradicating sickle cell disease in Nigeria.

“There should be adequate funding for a nationwide training of personnel and sensitisation programmes about sickle cell diseases,” he said.

According to Collins, Nigeria has the highest population of people with sickle cell disorder, with about 150,000 births annually.

He said available statistics showed that over 40 million Nigerians are carriers of the sickle cell gene.

He added that a 2014 report from the Federal Ministry of Health indicated that Katsina State had the highest number of people with sickle cell disorder with over 17,000 people.

Collins decried the negative attitude towards sickle cell diseases by Nigerians despite the alarming statistics.

He attributed the attitude to inadequate information about the disease or outright ignorance about sickle cell disorder.

Collins further urged the government to establish bone marrow transplant facilities across the states and refurbish the existing ones in order to help carriers of the gene live a happy and healthy live.

Besides, he called on caregivers to sickle cell carriers to ensure they drink more water to avoid dehydration.

“Ensure they keep warm since cold or wet condition can aggravate the sickness and they should avoid activities that can leave them excessively exhausted.

“Children with sickle cell disease should be fully immunised against infectious illnesses. They should also go for constant medical checkup,’’ he advised.

The medical expert explained that sickle cell anaemia, also known as sickle disorder or sickle cell disease, was a common genetic condition due to a haemoglobin disorder inheritance from both parents.

He said about five per cent of the world’s population carries the genes responsible for the disorder.

“Each year, about 300 infants are born with major haemoglobin disorders including more than 200,000 cases of sickle cell anaemia in Africa,’’ he said. (NAN)

TIM/MAS/MST

Edited by Moses Solanke/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

May and Baker to produce, market sickle cell drug, ‘Niprisan’- Institute

 

NAN-HG-2
Drug
By Yashim Katurak
Abuja, Feb. 9, 2017 (NAN) The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Development (NIPRD) and May and Baker Pharmaceutical Company will conclude arrangements on Feb. 23 for the firm to produce and distribute the sickle cell drug, called Niprisan.

The Director-General of the institute, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday that NIPRD would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the company to grant it licence to produce and market the drug.

Gamaniel said that the partnership with the company would help boost the current capacity of the institute to produce the drug as it  (NIPRD) could only produce one third of the quantity needed by the consumers.

“Producing and distributing drugs and vaccines on a large commercial scale is not part of the mandate of the institute hence the need to license it to a private company.

“We have had meetings with May and Baker on how to upscale the production of Niprisan.

“The meetings were successful and an MoU has been developed which we hope to sign on Feb. 23.

“When this MoU is signed, they will receive the licence to produce and market the drug on a commercial level.

“The organisation will be using our facilities for a year after which they will continue production in a larger factory in Lagos to increase production in order to reach a larger number of people,” Gamaniel said.

He said that the institute had been the sole producer and distributor of the drug as a social corporate responsibility of the Federal Government.

According to him, the agreement will prevent private distributors from putting a high price on the drug which will make it difficult for sickle cell sufferers to access it.

“The licence to produce and distribute the drug was previously withdrawn from a pharmaceutical company, but now the Federal Government needs to re-commercialise it.

“Government is making efforts to do this because NIPRD does not have the full production capacity to produce Niprisan to adequately reach all those that need the drug.

“You know that over three per cent of Nigeria’s population is currently living with the condition and this people are spread all over the country but the drug is only available at the institute here in Abuja for now.

“This needs to change if we want all of them to access the drug whenever they need it,” Gamaniel said.

He said the institute had continued to collaborate with Non- Governmental Organisations to help identify those with sickle cell anaemia and ensure they had access to the drug.

The director general said the drug was currently being sold by the institute for N3,000.

In 2015 the Federal Government stopped the commercialisation of the drug because of the prohibitive cost and withdrew the licence it granted a company to commercialise it because of the high cost of its product.  (NAN)
KRY/MNA/JCE
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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Chukwudi Ekezie