An Islamic scholar, Malam Muhammad Sulaiman, has stressed the need for compulsory genotype test by intended couples before marriage.
He made the call on Saturday in Damaturu at an event to commemorate the 2021 World Sickle Cell Day organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation — Sickle Cell Disease Eradication Initiative (SCDEI).
Annually marked on June 19 around the globe, the World Sickle Cell Day is aimed at raising awareness on the disorders, challenges suffered by people living with the disease, as well as offer solutions to its cure and management.
The day has “Shine The Light on Sickle Cell” as its theme for 2021.
Sickle Cell Disorders (SCD) are a group of illnesses which affect red blood cells, a genetic condition that is passed on from parents, not from other people.
In broad sense, the term “genotype” refers to the genetic makeup of an organism; in other words, it describes an organism’s complete set of genes. It also refers to the hemoglobin gene constituents on the red blood cells known as AA, AS, AC and SS.
The Islamic scholar, therefore, said “I want to call on the public more especially the religious leaders to enlighten their followers the nature and the dangers of sickle cell disease as stated by medical personnel.”
Suleiman added that both Islam and Christianity believed that protection of life and healthy wellbeing were vital to mankind.
“Therefore, religious leaders should educate their followers about the importance of genotype test before marriage,” he said.
He urged government to make it a law to ensure that genotype test was carried out before marriage just like HIV test.
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According to him, such legislation will go a long way toward eradicating the disorder.
The Executive Director of SCDEI, Dr Aliyu Muhammad, noted that Yobe had been among the states with high prevalence of the disease in Nigeria, thus the need for government, public and other stakeholders to understand the disorder.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Gana, commended the organisers of the event for raising public awareness about the disease.
Gana, who was represented by Dr Garba Fika, said that the best form of protection for the disorder was prevention.
“The disease is hereditary, not communicable, therefore premarital genotype test is the best form of prevention”, he added.
Some parents of sickle cell carriers and survivors shared their experiences at the event.
Christopher Zakaria, a parent of a sickle cell carrier, said love blindfolded him and his wife to go ahead with marriage in spite of their status, adding that “we are now paying the price.”
He, therefore, advised young men and women to get tested before marriage and stick to medical advice. (NAN)
