Centre Organises Free Genotype Screening For Members

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Metta, Lagos, last Sunday organised free genotype screening for members of the public.

Dr Yewande Jinadu, the hospital’s Medical Director, told newsmen that the exercise was to create awareness on the importance of genotype screening before marriage.

The medical director was represented by Dr Rose Okwudiafor, the Head of Clinical Services in the hospital.

She said that there was the need to enlighten and educate the people through community mobilisation programmes enable them to avoid pain and death as a result of the sickle cell disorder (SCD).

Jinadu said the screening was part of activities of the awareness creation on the newly inaugurated Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) Project Building at the centre to care for people living with the disorder.

She said the disorder was not a death sentence, explaining that “you can live a healthy life with the condition if you visit healthcare facilities and take to medical advice’’.

According to the medical director, a lot of people die as a result of sickle cell disorder because of the lack of education, awareness and the availability of only a few care centres.

“Sickle cell disorder is a major health challenge that has caught the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO) because it affects over 100 million people all over the world.

“And we have a high prevalence in Sub-Sahara Africa, Nigeria inclusive.

“This is why the Federal Government selected FMC, Lagos, as one of the six centres to cater for south-west in executing the Sickle Cell Disorder project in Nigeria,” Jinadu said.

She said that their mandate was to prevent and manage the disorder because it could lead to disability, health complications and death, if not properly managed.

“Sickle cell disorder is a major public health concern that requires the involvement of every social fabric which includes the individual, community and the state to protect and promote health,” Jinadu said.

The medical director said that the clinic offered discount on treatment and surgeries, and distributed free drugs to sickle cell patients on the second Friday of every month.

Tonye Nria-Dappa