Editorial
Know sickle cell status to avoid marital disappointment
Knowing your sickle cell status before falling in love is advised for young adults planning to be married in the future.
As sickle cell disease (SCD) sufferers have terrible experiences, this will help prevent heartaches, disappointments, and even divorce after having children with SCD later in life.
This is essential to keep people from marrying others who have sickle cell in their genes, which would expose them to the potentially fatal consequences of SCD according to Ms. Charlotte Owusu, the founder of the Sickle Cell Condition Advocates (SICCA).
During the introduction of a national SCD policy aimed at enhancing comprehensive and coordinated healthcare services for sufferers nationwide Ghanaians, particularly the young, were cautioned by Ms. Owusu not to minimise the condition, which causes a health, financial, and societal cost.
Some people do not check their sickle cell status before getting married, and this has been harming their marriages. Those who have children with sickle cell disease wish it had never been discovered, but it is too late.
Due to their children’s SCD, some people have lost their children, while others have experienced unsuccessful marriages.
According to statistics, one in four Ghanaians are thought to carry the sickle cell trait, which is indicated by the haemoglobin S or C gene. Sadly, some people are unaware of their status.
Also, nine out of 10 Ghanaians, according to national statistics, do not know if they have sickle cell disease (SCD). This situation is made worse by the fact that between 15,000 and 20,000 babies are born with SCD in Ghana each year, which accounts for two percent of all live births.
This is a serious matter, and a lot of education should be done to promote it in the media so that people will take it seriously enough for their own benefit.
Since one in every 50 Ghanaian children is thought to have sickle cell disease, with 50 to 90 percent of them passing away before turning five, it is therefore advantageous for young people to get screened for the condition as soon as possible.
In order to make the best choice, several religious organisations have mandated that prospective couples check their status as soon as they begin counselling. Knowing one’s status prior to marriage is preferable to being married and then having problems after having children.
It is a positive move, and The Spectator would like to encourage religious leaders to use their platforms to inform followers – especially young people – about their position.
Although there are treatments like hydroxyurea, penicillin, folic acid, and bone marrow transplants, among others, prevention of sickle cell disease is crucial, thus it is actually better to be aware of your status so that you do not marry someone who shares it.
People need to be taught to screen before falling in love and to come clean early in a relationship before it becomes too deep and challenging to end.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
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