IT IS HIGH TIME YOU KNEW ABOUT YOUR GENOTYPE

Nigeria has the highest number of people living with the sickle gene trait in Africa, yet many of its citizens do not know their genotype.

One should be alarmed that if not for the faith-based organisations that conduct pre-marital genotype tests for couples to determine their “compatibility,” many Nigerians would go through life without having an idea of this vital information.
      Doctors, who stress its importance, note that knowing one’s genotype is akin to knowing one’s complete heritable genetic identity. Not having this vital information, they say, can put a couple at the risk of suffering or dying of health complications associated with sickle cell disorder.
      Consultant haematologist, Dr. Segun Ashimolowo, explains that knowing one’s genotype would reveal whether one has the AA genotype, the sickle cell gene (AS)or the sickle cell disease.
      According to Ashimolowo, sickle cell anaemia is an African blood disorder that affects five million Nigerians while 40 million others are carriers of the S gene,You may wonder what the fuss is about being a sickle cell carrier. It is an inherited disorder, which one may have no control over unlike other infectious diseases.
      Ashimolowo says sickle cell disorder is a serious medical condition, which when not detected early and managed appropriately, could lead to premature deaths of babies, 
According to him, people living with the disorder may suffer lifelong disabilities including hip dislocation, leg ulcer, and early onset of arthritis, anaemia and paralysis when not diagnosed on time.
He adds, “Sickle cell anaemia is a condition in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells instead of normal red blood cells. The cells are disc-shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the centre.“Sickle cells contain abnormal haemoglobin called sickle haemoglobin or haemoglobin S. Sickle haemoglobin causes the cells to develop a sickle, or crescent shape. Such cells are stiff and sticky.
       “They tend to block blood flow in the blood vessels of the limbs and organs. Blocked blood flow can cause pain and organ damage. It can also raise the risk for infections. These are very serious health problems that can be avoided with early detection and treatment.”
    Forty-eight year old, sickle cell survivor, Tosin Odutola, agrees with this school of thought. She notes that marriage and genetic counselling for intending couples will help them to make informed decisions and reduce the sickle cell burden in the country.

Odusola states, “I will strongly advise couples carrying the genes to make informed de