Sani Danja to shoot film on sickle cell disorder

The Glo ambassador made the declaration while speaking with newsmen in Abuja recently ahead of the FCT Sickle Cell Week. He said he is astounded by the fact that some 150, 000 nigerian chidren are born annually with the condition because their parents have failed to take the necessary precaution of having their genotypes tested […]

The Glo ambassador made the declaration while speaking with newsmen in Abuja recently ahead of the FCT Sickle Cell Week.

He said he is astounded by the fact that some 150, 000 nigerian chidren are born annually with the condition because their parents have failed to take the necessary precaution of having their genotypes tested and urged well meaning Nigerians to support efforts to combat the condition.

He said his film which he will shoot at a later date will target people in the rural areas with a view to sensitizing them on the effects of the condition and measure to be taken to prevent it.

Also speaking on the Sikcle Cell week, Miss Rabi Maidunama, founder of the Maidunama Sicke Cell Foundation said having a legislation enforcing genotype testing prior to marriage will go a long way in reducing the cases of children being born with the condition.

Ms. Maidunama, who is living with the Sickle cell disorder, said her foundation is advocating for a law that will ensure couples have their genotype status tested before they are allowed to marry, saying the absence of such legislature has resulted in the birth of about 150, 000 children carrying the disorder annually in Nigeria alone.

“Having a legislation or policy enforcing genotype testing will go a long way in solving this problem,” she said.

Ms. Maidunama, who described the disorder as “one of the most terrible situations we have in this country” said relevant government agencies have been treating the situation with kids gloves and said even the folic acid tablet they need on a daily basis is hard to come by for most of them.

“Unfortunately, the government can’t even provide free folic acid for us. At least we are hoping this policy will make folic acid affordable for us, or even make it free, or enforce genotype testing and the testing of children as soon as they are born to reduce the complication they will face,” she said.

Maidunama, whose foundation issues out free folic acid to people living with the disorder, said she was “very disappointed with the ministry of health.”

According to her, the Ministry has shown no commitment to tackle the condition and has not responded to several overtures by her foundation to partner in tackling the problem, saying only the Minister of the FCT had enthusiastically agreed to help stage the Sickle Cell Week.

“If they don’t collaborate with NGOs, then there is no way they will tackle this problem. We are the people, we are the people living with this condition, we know where the problem is,” she said.