A neurologist at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Dr Godwin Osaigbovo, has said that matters of genotype supersede love in marriage.
He warned the public to be conscious of the dangers of sickle cell, especially in marriage.
He spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on the sidelines of a medical outreach and sensitisation project on sickle cell held at the Federal Government College on Wednesday in Jos.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Rotary Club International District 9125, and the Old Students Association of the School, featuring screenings, counselling and talk shows for the students.
Osaigbovo expressed concern at the practice of placing sentiments over quality health status of partners during marital choices.
He noted that the public ought to be awake to the detrimental effects that the sickle cell portends on families and, therefore, not to rely on emotions but on logic and reasoning when choosing their life partners.
“When you’re getting into a marriage relationship, you think love is the most important thing, but we want people to understand that there are other things beyond love.
“Knowing your health status is very important and knowing that the person you are getting married to is compatible with you is much more important.
“This is because when the problem starts, the love will not be enough to hold the family together.
“It is important for everybody to know their genotype, both parents and their children, everybody should know, if you know what your genotype is, you know what you should do.
“If people are aware of their genotypes and when they are getting married, they get married to somebody whom they are compatible with, over time, we can actually phase out sickle cell disease.
“So my advice is, get that information, that will help you on how to take decisions concerning your future,” he said.
He explained that the project would target the school children for the outreach because “when the children are taught early, it is expected that it will reflect in their decision making later on in life”.
Similarly, Dr Nathaniel Lagan the leader of the old students’ association in Federal Government College, Jos, reiterated the need to inform the children about the dangers of the disease while at their prime to help them in their choices in marriage.
“Sickle cell is a disease that is present with us, awareness is very very necessary and it’s better to identify it at an early stage.
“So, we felt starting at this level, the students will grow up with their awareness of sickle cell and what it entails and how to prevent or avoid the mishaps that may come later in life when people live with the disease,” he said.
