KNOWING YOUR BLOOD TYPE! A CRUCIAL STEP BEFORE SAYING “I DO”

KNOWING YOUR BLOOD TYPE! A CRUCIAL STEP BEFORE SAYING “I DO”

May 26, 2024 | Healthy Moves

Love is beautiful, and for many singles, the path leads towards marriage and starting a family. But before we walk down the aisle, there’s an important conversation and a simple test that can significantly impact our future children’s health: understanding blood genotypes.

Blood genotypes refer to the specific genetic makeup of our red blood cells, particularly the haemoglobin protein that carries oxygen throughout our body. Knowing our genotype, especially for conditions like sickle cell anaemia, empowers couples to make informed decisions about their family planning.

Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited blood disorder. People with sickle cell anaemia have an abnormal form of haemoglobin, causing their red blood cells to become sickle-shaped instead of round and flexible. These sickle-shaped cells get stuck in narrow blood vessels, blocking oxygen flow and causing immense pain, organ damage, infections, and fatigue.

Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic condition passed down from parents to children. Here’s how genotype plays a crucial role:

AA Genotype! This is considered the normal, healthy genotype. Individuals with AA have two healthy copies of the haemoglobin gene and are unlikely to pass on sickle cell disease.

AS Genotype: This is the carrier state. People with AS have one normal copy and one sickle cell copy of the gene. They typically don’t experience symptoms themselves but can pass on the sickle cell trait to their children.

SS Genotype: This genotype signifies sickle cell disease. Individuals with SS inherit two sickle cell copies, resulting in the development of the disease.

Now, let’s see how genotype compatibility comes into play when planning a family:

AA and AA couple: There’s no risk of passing sickle cell disease to children.

AA and AS couple: There’s a 50% chance each child will inherit the sickle cell trait (AS) but won’t have the disease.

AS and AS couple: There’s a 25% chance of having a healthy child (AA), a 50% chance of having a child with the sickle cell trait (AS), and a 25% chance of having a child with sickle cell anaemia (SS).

SS and any other genotype couple: All children will inherit the sickle cell trait (AS) and have a 50% chance of developing sickle cell anaemia if they inherit another sickle cell gene from the partner.

While sickle cell anaemia is a major concern, there are other blood genotype considerations for couples:

Rhesus factor incompatibility! This incompatibility between the Rhesus factor proteins in a mother’s and baby’s blood can lead to complications during pregnancy. A simple blood test can identify potential issues and allow for proper medical management.

Blood type compatibility! While not directly linked to genetic diseases, blood type incompatibility can cause problems during pregnancy and delivery. Again, a simple blood test can determine compatibility.

Getting a blood genotype test is a simple and painless process. Many hospitals and clinics around us offer these tests, often included in premarital screening packages. Knowing our genotype empowers you to:

Reduced risk of sickle cell anaemia in children! By understanding ours’s and our partner’s genotypes, we can minimise the risk of our children inheriting sickle cell disease.

Early diagnosis and management! If you’re a carrier (AS), prenatal testing can help identify sickle cell anaemia in the developing baby, allowing for early intervention and improved outcomes.

Informed family planning! Knowing our genotype allows for open communication with our partner about potential risks and exploring options like genetic counselling or prenatal diagnosis.

Prepare for a healthy pregnancy! Early detection of potential risks allows for proper medical management during pregnancy, ensuring the best possible outcome for both mother and child.

We must all understand that our blood genotype doesn’t diminish our love or commitment. It’s a proactive step towards a healthy future for ourselves and our potential family. By getting tested and having open conversations, we can embark on a journey of informed parenthood, minimising risks and maximising the chances of welcoming healthy children into the world.

Remember, as Christians, a happy marriage is built on love, trust, and open communication. We must add informed decision-making to that list for a truly fulfilling journey together.

Courtesy: Benjamin Olorunfemi For Rays of Hope Support Initiative

SHINE THE LIGHT ON SICKLE CELL

SHINE THE LIGHT ON SICKLE CELL

Jul 7, 2022 | Healthy Moves

SHINE THE LIGHT ON SICKLE CELL

Today is World Sickle Cell Day with the theme ‘Shine the Light on Sickle Cell’. June 19th every year has been set aside as an important day by the United Nations to recognise sickle cell anaemia as a public health problem and to promote education about this genetic condition.

Sickle cell anaemia is a condition in which there are not enough healthy red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen throughout the body. Sickle cell disease affects nearly 100 million people worldwide and is responsible for over 50% of deaths among those with the most severe form of the disease.

It is estimated that each year over 300,000 children are born annually with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa. SCD is a significant contributor to NCD-related child mortality globally, causing up to 15% of deaths in children aged less than 5 years. Without appropriate intervention, up to 90% of those born with the condition die before their fifth birthday.

According to Dr Oluwatosin Adeoye in her article in the Punch Newspapers, titled ‘’ Challenges in Nigeria’s management of sickle cell disease,’’ she made us understand that ‘Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder inherited from one’s parents and characterised by the inheritance of two abnormal genes with one of the abnormal genes being haemoglobin “S.” It’s commoner in blacks although it is a global disease. It is said to have originated from Sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria still has the highest burden of sickle disease in the world’

Nigeria leads the world in the number of cases of sickle cell disease (SCD). An estimated 150,000 babies are born annually in Nigeria with SCD, a heredity disorder, and 70-90% die before age 5.

Experts say sickle cell anaemia can lead to many complications such as stroke, acute chest syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, organ damage, blindness, leg ulcers, and pregnancy complications, among others.

For instance, it is believed that sickle cells can block blood flow to an area of the brain, igniting stroke signs such as seizures, weakness or numbness of arms and legs, sudden speech difficulties, and loss of consciousness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 70% of deaths could be; prevented with a low-cost diagnostic and treatment plan, but what else can we do to reduce sickle cell disease among our people?

  • Screening of sickle cell disease among our newborns. Which is one of the best ways to tackle the surge of SCD.
  • Promote effective education about sickle cell disease and its management
  • Increase awareness programmes that will help in reducing ignorance about the disease.
  • Providing affordable healthcare for people living with sickle cell disease is another means by which there can be effective management of sickle cell disease in this part of the world.
  • Availability of medical therapies in the management of sickle cell disease to the people at an affordable price; and under a conducive atmosphere.
  • Like other NCDs, managing sickle cell anaemia is expensive in terms of getting the needed drug therapies. So we are asking that the government and other international organisations/donors (like WHO) should make SCD drugs and treatment available to our people like what they did with HIV/AIDS and TB.
  • Nigeria government through her health agencies, concentrate more on the treatment of SCD complications than preventive/ management of sickle cell disease. There should be awareness among our youth who are yet to be married or about to on the importance of knowing their blood genotypes
  • We must remove the stigmatisation associated with the people living with sickle cell disease. We must see them as people with special needs and not see them as cast out with ‘names’.

Lastly, our salute to our born warriors in the battles against Sickle Cell anaemia in Nigeria, keep the fights on! Hold on to your hopes and dreams you can all achieve whatever you ever dream of, if you believe.

SCD, it’s a war that will be won very soon through proper enlightenment and collaborations.

Courtesy: #ROHSI3 Team members.

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