Ignorance, misinformation fuel rising sickle cell cases in Nigeria

The fate of a 26-year-old pregnant woman, Olamide Azeez (not her real name), and her unborn baby remains uncertain due to her ignorance of genotype compatibility before pregnancy.
Compounding her situation, Azeez, because of financial constraints, is relying on herbal concoctions provided by a traditional birth attendant.
This has raised further concerns about her health and that of her unborn child.
There are hundreds of people like Azeez across the country whose lack of knowledge about genotype compatibility remains a major factor in the rising number of children born with sickle cell disorder.
An estimated 150,000 infants are born annually with sickle cell disorder, the most co...