A medical expert in Rivers State, Dr Patience Asoh, has admonished prospective couples to strive to know each other’s genotype before tying the nuptial knots. Dr. Asoh said that this became imperative in order for them not to give birth to children with sickle cell anaemia.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt on the menace of the dreaded killer disease, sickle cell anaemia, and the need for genotype test before marriage, Dr Patience Asoh, said that this is practically to create awareness about the existence of sickle cell disease, and how to prevent or manage it.
“People should be concerned about whoever they want to marry by trying to know their genotype because if a person with AS genotype marries another with same AS, there are chances that they may produce children with sickle cell anaemia.
“When this happens, it can drain emotion and take away the love between such couple. It is also capable of creating a financial burden on both the families, and the society in general. “We don’t want such things. If people are aware, they will know what to do to ameliorate the disease”, she said.
While calling for government’s intervention to prevent the disease, Dr. Asoh said it was necessary for people to know how the problem came about, as well as, its prevention.
Related: Best Fruit For Every Organ Of The Body
“It requires telling people the need to run blood tests before they get married. This will go a long way in keeping people actually informed through the basic health-care units in various communities”, she said.
Dr Patience Asoh, a gynaecologist with Atinu Critical Care Hospital, in Port Harcourt, said pregnant women with sickle cell disease could be managed like any other pregnant woman. She urged medical experts managing such category of women to take into account their peculiarities and challenges.
“Excessive pain during childbirth can send them into crises, we must try to avoid that. The baby inside needs to be safe too. “So, transfusion is vital in this direction, especially, when the mother do not have enough blood to cater for herself and the baby. So also is induced labour”, she said.
According to Dr Patience Asoh, such patients need close monitoring, unlike other women in labour, who can be given time and be monitored.
“You need the presence of dedicated obstetricians, midwives and haematologists, in case of any erupted complication during the process of delivery,” Dr Patience Asoh submitted.
