The Kwara State Government has urged young people to ascertain their genotype status before entering into marriage, as part of efforts to curb the prevalence of sickle cell disease in the state.

The government said early genotype screening and increased public awareness were critical to preventing avoidable cases of the disease and helping young people make informed decisions about their health and marital choices.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Press Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Saad Hamdalat, the First Lady of the state, Olufolake Abdulrazaq, made the appeal during the flag-off of a statewide genotype screening and awareness programme tagged ‘Know Your Genotype.’

The programme, organised in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and Concerned Medics Foundation, is aimed at promoting early genotype screening and raising awareness about SCD, particularly among adolescents and young people.

Abdulrazaq, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, said Nigeria carried the highest burden of sickle cell disease globally, with about six million people living with the condition and approximately 150,000 affected babies born annually.

She stressed that young people needed to understand their genotype status early enough to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and future marriages, urging parents to take responsibility for knowing the genotype of all their children and ensuring they have the documents with them as they go into adulthood.

She further disclosed that the state government had provided free health insurance coverage for people living with SCD in Kwara as part of efforts to ease the financial pressure associated with managing the condition, while the Chairperson of Concerned Medics Foundation and Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Sadiya Gumi-Bennett, disclosed that 500 students had so far undergone genotype screening across the state, while the programme was expected to cover 1,000 students, with the screening conducted with parental consent and seven students identified with the disease referred to hospitals for further confirmation and appropriate medical management.