LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Sickle cell disease is silently weakening the immune systems of thousands of Nigerians, leaving children and young adults vulnerable to repeated infections, organ damage and early death.
Health advocates say that this outcomes are largely preventable through early genotype awareness and education.
Against this backdrop, the Oyo State Government and Seyifara Foundation have raised the alarm over what they describe as avoidable suffering caused by sickle cell disease (SCD), urging compulsory genotype testing, premarital counselling and structured education beginning from secondary school.
The call comes amid estimates that Nigeria records about 150,000 sickle cell births annually, one of the highest figures globally.
Speaking at a public awareness programme held in Ibadan over the weekend, stakeholders warned that sickle cell does more than distort red blood cells. The condition progressively weakens sufferers, damages vital organs and compromises the immune system, increasing susceptibility to severe infections that many patients do not survive. They argued that ignorance, not fate, continues to drive the country’s growing SCD burden.
The event, themed “Know your genotype, know your power,” was organised by the Oyo State Ministries of Health and Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with Seyifara Foundation. Participants stressed that while sickle cell disorder is inherited, its devastating health, social and economic consequences can be significantly reduced when genotype knowledge becomes part of early life planning.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Akintunde Ayeni, underscored the point, warning that late awareness often leads families into avoidable genetic pairings that result in lifelong illness. He noted that children born with SCD face recurrent pain crises, chronic fatigue and weakened immunity that limits their ability to thrive academically and socially.
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Adding to the concern, Seyifara Foundation called on the National Assembly to consider legislation that would strengthen collaboration between government agencies and religious institutions. The proposed framework would promote stricter premarital screening and improve compliance among intending couples.
Founder of the foundation, Oluwaseyi Adediran, said the organization is deliberately redirecting its focus to young people, insisting that genotype education must start earlier than marriage counselling sessions.
“Starting from secondary school, we want young people to understand their genotype early. This is how we reduce deaths and the long-term burden of illness,” Adediran said.
He explained that early education would not only prevent new cases but also help the health system prepare for the increasing strain posed by non-communicable genetic diseases, including the management of immune-related complications common in sickle cell patients.
Providing further details, members of the foundation’s Board of Directors, Adeniran Adediran and Lawal Olayiwola, disclosed plans for a six-month awareness campaign in partnership with the Oyo State Government. The initiative, scheduled to run from January to June 2026, will target secondary school students across Ibadan.
According to them, the programme will prioritise sensitization, peer education and youth-led advocacy, while confronting the stigma that worsens the emotional and psychological burden of people living with SCD.
Information, Education and Communication materials will be distributed, and “Genotype and Friendship Clubs” will be established in participating schools to sustain peer-to-peer learning beyond the campaign.
Public health experts at the event agreed that breaking the cycle of immune damage, repeated hospitalizations and early deaths linked to sickle cell disease begins with knowledge, honest conversations and policy-backed prevention rather than continued silence.
