EBONYI GOV’S WIFE ENROLS 100 SICKLE CELL PATIENTS INTO STATE HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health, is to sponsor a one month free genotype test for all categories of persons.

This is in a bid to curb the spread of sickle cell disease in the state.

She announced this at the launch of enrolment of 100 persons living with the disorder into the State Health Insurance Scheme in Abakaliki.

The Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru explained that the enrolment of 100 persons living with the disorder in the Insurance Scheme and free genotype test were to reduce the agony and financial burden associated with taking care of a sickle cell patient.

Mrs. Nwifuru also empowered some residents of the state living with the disorder whom she described as Sickle Cell Warriors.

The Commissioner for Health in Ebonyi State, Dr. Moses Ekuma, said the programme was in line with the People’s Charter of Needs adopted by the state government and urged the people to shun some misconceptions about the disease.

A Former Coordinator Sickle Cell Centre South East zone, who is a Consultant Hematologist, Oluomachi Nnachi, explained that Nigeria had the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world with about 400,000 children being born with sickle cell disease yearly.

Sickle Cell Disease is a group of red blood cell disorders that children inherit from their parents if both have a hemoglobin ‘S’ gene, which is a sickle cell trait.

This can only be detected through a genotype test but why such is a mandatory requirement for wedding a couple in some sections of the society, others throw caution to the wind only to consummate their marriage and end up having children with sickle cell disease.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU