Dr. Yvonne Nana Brew, a paediatrician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has educated on one important precautionary measure which people should take before meeting or settling down with their partners.
In an interview with Eunice Tornyi on eTV Ghana’s African Women’s Voices, she noted that before deciding to settle down with someone and possibly have children, it is important that both parties are fully aware of the type of genes they have and whether or not it will cause their offspring to have sickle cell anaemia.
“You need to get the HB electrophoresis test. Please don’t take a sickling test because that will only tell you that you do not have an S gene. It does not tell you that you do not have a C or any other among the types of genes.
Just take an HB Electrophoresis test so that you know you’re an A gene with an S, and then you can make the decision that if you marry and have a child with anyone who is also an AS, you know what you’re getting into”, she emphasized.
The doctor addressed that people should make this a priority before getting together or deciding to have children so that when they do have children who turn out to have sickle cell anaemia, they do not blame the children.
Dr. Brew clarified that she is not advising people not to marry their preferred partners, however, they should be sure that they are fully aware that their child may or may not be sickle cell anaemic, and boldly make that decision whether or not they are willing to handle it.
By: Maureen Dedei Quaye