Emir ensures Genotype screening before marriage in Gombe
Emir of Akko, Alh. Umar Atiku says until presentation of genotype record during marriage is enforced there would be increased number of sickle cell related
cases in Gombe State.
The Lamido of Akko made this disclosure on Wednesday, while receiving a delegation from Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth), who were in the emirate on sensitisation of stakeholders’ on enrolment of additional 40,000 poor and vulnerable under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCF).
According to him, he has started enforcing ‘show us your result before marriage in the emirate’, stressing that some have chosen to evade such scrutiny in order to get married without their permission.
Atiku said the same emphasis placed on HIV testing should be transferred to ascertaining genotype screening to mitigate the growing increasing pains faced by warriors.
He said, “I think the government and other stakeholders should look into this issue and work on enforcing this type of screening before marriage. Because even as we are enforcing here in the palace some intending couples do boycott the palace and get wedded elsewhere.”
However, owing to the growing population of sickle cell warriors to about 5,000 in the state the house of assembly had urged parents to ensure the compatibility of their children.
Briefing Stakeholders’ during the sensitisation, Operations Manager, Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (GoHealth), Dr. Maspara Gideon said his organisation is committed to revalidating it previous records where about 25,565 poor and vulnerable were enrolled in the scheme, as well as an additional 40,000 in the BHCF.
“We have come here to sensitise the community; we have put together community representatives, all community, religious leaders, groups and organisation of the poor and vulnerable, the aim is to ensure that they understand the categories of people that will benefit from this program which include children under five, the aged, widows, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the physically challenged persons in the community.
“We sensitised them to actually be on the look out and mobilise such categories of people so that they can get their National Identity Number (NIN), ready for when we start the enrolment which is coming up very soon in May,” Gideon added.
Also Speaking, Chairman of Saif Advocacy Foundation Alhassan Yahya, said the Basic Health Care Provision Fund is an initiative geared towards improving the health of masses.
According to him, the rich can access medical support, however with BHCF the poor can get qualitative care without worries.
He said, “This is an opportunity to reduce our-of-pocket expenses but for the masses it is free of charge. This category is vulnerable it include; Widows, people living with disabilities. It something worthy of commendation as it closes the gap between the poor and vulnerable. Kudos to Gohealth, Gombe State Government and the Federal Government as this would promote better health indices in the state.”
