HEALTH advocates have called for mandatory genotype screening before marriage as part of efforts to reduce the incidence of sickle cell disease and prevent avoidable family crises.
They said genotype screening remained one of the most effective strategies for reducing the burden of sickle cell anaemia and helping intending couples make informed reproductive and marital decisions.
Ms Maryam Hassan, Founder of Cristal Shaped Sickle Cell Foundation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. She said many family challenges could be prevented through early screening and counselling.
According to her, love and emotional attachment often influence marital decisions, but couples should not ignore medical realities that could affect the future health and wellbeing of their children.
“Some Churches and Mosques across Nigeria now require intending couples to present genotype and HIV test certificates before marriage,” she said.
Hassan described the practice as a positive step toward reducing the number of children born with sickle cell anaemia and other inherited health conditions across the country.
She advised that genotype and HIV tests should be conducted in accredited hospitals and independent medical facilities to ensure authenticity and reduce the possibility of result manipulation.
The foundation founder also called for increased public awareness, particularly in rural communities where misconceptions and limited knowledge about genetic compatibility remained widespread among residents.
According to her, many people still fail to understand that both parents contribute equally to a child’s genetic makeup, often leading to misplaced blame on mothers when challenges arise.
She emphasised the need to actively involve men in awareness campaigns, noting that reproductive health and childbearing responsibilities should be shared equally between both partners.
Hassan said improved awareness would enable young people to make informed decisions before marriage and reduce the emotional, social and financial burden associated with sickle cell disease.
Also speaking, Mr John Uwaya of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, said preventing genetically incompatible marriages was more effective than confronting difficult choices after marriage.
He urged young people to prioritise genotype testing before making marriage commitments, emphasising that informed decisions today could protect future generations from avoidable health challenges.
According to him, Nigeria bears one of the highest burdens of sickle cell disease globally, making public awareness and early genotype screening crucial in efforts to reduce prevalence.
NAN reports that experts continue to identify premarital genotype screening as one of the safest and most acceptable approaches to reducing inherited blood disorders. (NAN)
