By Yussif Ibrahim
Kumasi, June 19, GNA – Young people have been advised to prioritise knowing their partner’s genotype before committing to a relationship, to avoid the unexpected challenge of having children with sickle cell disease.
Dr. Eunice Agyemang Ahmed, a Haematologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), gave the advice during an intra-school debate on sickle cell awareness held at the T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School in Kumasi.
The event formed part of activities to mark the 2025 World Sickle Cell Awareness Day.
The debate featured two teams arguing for and against the motion: “Is Love Alone Enough, or Should Sickle Cell Compatibility Matter When Choosing a Partner?”
The aim was to educate students on the importance of genotype compatibility in relationships, especially when planning to have children.
Dr. Ahmed noted that understanding one’s genotype and that of a potential partner is one of the most effective ways to prevent the lifelong burden of managing sickle cell disease in children.
“It is important to know your partner’s genotype even before the relationship becomes serious. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to end a relationship after making emotional and financial investments, even when there’s a risk of giving birth to a child with sickle cell,” she noted.
She explained that sickle cell disease occurs when both parents pass on abnormal haemoglobin genes to their child.
Therefore, genotype screening is crucial for making informed decisions about starting a family.
The national theme for this year’s awareness campaign is “Tell it Loud: Screen, Support, and Share.”
As part of the awareness drive, officials from KATH’s Haematology Department have embarked on a sensitisation campaign on local radio stations and in senior high schools across the Ashanti Region.
Dr. Ahmed described the outreach to students as a proactive effort to help the younger generation avoid a preventable mistake that could affect their lives.
“We want to empower them with the knowledge that genotype compatibility is just as important as physical attraction or other attributes when choosing a life partner,” she stated.
She revealed that sickle cell disease is highly prevalent in Ghana, with one in four Ghanaians carrying the sickle cell trait and about two percent of newborns being affected by the disease.
Currently, over 6,000 patients are receiving care at KATH, although Dr. Ahmed noted that this number does not reflect the total burden in the region, as many patients seek treatment at other facilities.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Kenneth Odeng Adade