Date: 2012-08-05

Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kayode Issa,� canvassed yesterday a national legislation that will make the treatment of sickle cell anaemia free in the country, just as he� threw� his weight behind calls by networks of stakeholders in the fight against sickle cell anaemia for a legislation that will make the screening of blood compulsory for would-be couples.

Issa, who made the call in Ilorin, while receiving members of the network in his office after a walk around some strategic places in the Kwara State capital, said there was need for serious advocacy in dealing with the disease which is believed to be predominant among black people across the globe.�

The commissioner, who gave assurance of the full support of the incumbent administration to the fight against sickle cell anaemia, lamented that failure to check genotype properly before marriage often leads to life-long psychological challenges for couples which is far greater than the broken hearts they might have suffered if due to investigation they have to decided against marriage at the initial stage.

Earlier, leader of the group and founder of Friends of Sickle Cell, Mr. Abolaji Baker, had solicited the support of the ministry in pursuing appropriate legislation that will aid the spread of the disease pointing out that his group had met with the leadership of the state assembly on the matter and had good assurances that can be pursued by the ministry to materialise into concrete laws.

"We are celebrating the day with a walk because we want to bring awareness about the disease to the people", Baker said, adding that since it is an inherited disease there is the great possibilities that it can be avoided if people do the proper screening before marriage.

Another leader of the group, Dr. Olaosebikan Lawal, expressed concern that Nigeria has about 300,000 cases of the disease every year among children but expressed hope that with proper effort, the possibilities of finding a lasting solution to the disease at a very affordable cost is possible.