Nonye Soludo Urges Pre-marital Health Checks to Prevent Sickle Cell

Mrs Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Anambra State Governor, has expressed her support for individuals living with sickle cell anaemia. In a statement released in Awka to commemorate the 2023 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, Mrs Soludo emphasised the importance of couples undergoing genotype checks before entering into marital unions, to protect their children from unnecessary health crises.

Mrs Soludo highlighted that neglecting crucial pre-marital health assessments can lead to emotional and health trauma for the affected family, hindering a child's prospects of a fulfilling future. She urged intending couples to prioritise their health compatibility requirements, along with other essential health assessments that are vital for the well-being of their family and society at large.

The governor's wife pointed out that disregarding these essential steps puts individuals at avoidable health risks and creates an unhealthy social environment. She expressed regret that despite efforts to reduce the number of children born with sickle cell anaemia and other perinatal illnesses, some people still overlook the risks associated with marrying without undergoing proper health compatibility assessment.

While reaffirming her support for individuals living with sickle cell disease, especially in Anambra State, Mrs Soludo emphasised that having the disease does not condemn one to a life of despair, as those affected can still pursue their life goals.

However, Mrs Soludo called upon parents, health awareness advocates, social groups, and religious organisations to intensify efforts in educating people about the inherent dangers of entering into marital relationships without proper genotype and blood group checks.

The governor's wife acknowledged that Anambra State has made progress in reducing the number of children born with sickle cell disease. Nonetheless, she stressed the need to sustain efforts to ultimately eliminate the occurrence of the disease.

The World Sickle Cell Day (WSCD), observed annually on June 19, carries the theme "Building and strengthening Global Sickle Cell Communities, Formalising Newborn Screening and Knowing your Sickle Cell Disease Status" for the year 2023. This theme emphasises the importance of recognising the first step in fighting sickle cell disease, which involves understanding the genotype in infants and adults through newborn screening and awareness of one's sickle cell disease status.