Dr. Gethrude Awuku, a Sickle Cell Advocate at Legon Hospital, has urged Ghanaians to check their genotype before marriage to prevent giving birth to children with Sickle Cell Disease commonly known as SS.
Speaking in an interview with Kwadwo Sefa-Dankwah on Happy 98.9 FM’s Happy on Wheels at Agbogbloshie Market, Accra, on Thursday, March 27, Dr. Awuku noted that many people, especially the youth, enter into marriage without knowing their partner’s genotype.
“Most of the time, young people do not check their genotype before marriage, which often results in giving birth to children with Sickle Cell Disease. As a result, they frequently visit the hospital for medical care. Additionally, some believe Sickle Cell is a spiritual condition, but it is not, it is a hereditary disease,” she said.
She explained that genotype is hereditary, meaning if one parent carries the Sickle Cell trait, it can be passed on to their children. She emphasized that Sickle Cell is not a communicable disease like HIV/AIDS but an inherited condition.
Dr. Awuku further stated that individuals can have genotypes such as AA, AS, AC, SS, and SE, which should be checked at a hospital before marriage.
She highlighted that those with the AA genotype are compatible with all others, while SS poses the highest risk.
She stressed the importance of genotype screening before marriage to reduce the risk of having children with Sickle Cell Disease.
“As a young person or a parent, when your child expresses readiness for marriage, it is important to ask if they know their partner’s genotype. If you are a man proposing marriage to a woman, the first step should be to check her genotype. Do not wait until after marriage, as this could lead to giving birth to children with Sickle Cell Disease,” she added.
