GENOTYPE MISMATCH:
TIME BOMB FOR FAMILIES
Genotyping
DEBORAH ADEKAA
In the 21st century where awareness creation has been enhanced through the information communication technology (ICT), it is worrisome that families have continued to die over avoidable situations. One of the causes of deaths in Nigeria is genotype-mismatch, which intending couple ignore, thereby facing the consequences thereof.
When asked if he had taken his genotype test Austin Obagwu (who was preparing for his marriage at the time of compiling this report) said “what is most important in marriage is love. Love conquers all things including genotype.” This is the view of Obagwu and thousands others who think genotype is not to be considered before exchanging marital vows.
For Aondoaseer Josephine “love rules the heart and takes precedence in the decision of who to marry, but it is equally important for one to know his or her genotype before venturing into the journey of marriage.” She is one out of few persons who know the right thing as she considers the long term consequences of genotype mismatch.
Doctor Okafor Emmanuel of the Federal Medical Centre Makurdi said only few out of intending couples remember to go for their medicals, not to talk of going for genotype test. He said it is very important for would be couples to know their genotype before going ahead to exchange their vows, to avoid giving birth to children with sickle cell. This situation can adversely affect the economic state of the family, reducing it to pains and agony.
Doctor Okafor further said “a man who wants to get married is supposed to know his genotype and that of the woman he intends to marry before getting to know other things about themselves. There are many things that come with sickle cell; children are gifts from God, but those with sickle cell have a short life spam. The children become a burden to their parents and not the joy expected.”
Doctor Augustine Agbedeh of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital said the cost of looking after a sickle cell child is enormous; 90 percent of children with sickle cell do not grow into adulthood. Doctor Agbedeh said for our society to be free of sickle cell, it is the duty of every good citizen to take the awareness campaign to every door step; the rural communities, school children, to the university community and every tier of socialization to help educate people. The religious institutions (churches and mosques) have a big role to play in this situation as they control a crowd of congregations.
While some religious organizations are oppose to joining couples who are not compatible genotype wise, others join couples without delving into their health statuses.
Reverend Father Barnabas Akaa of St. Francis Quasi Parish Akpen said “for any marriage to take place, it is not out of place for intending couples to know their genotype and go for other medical checkup before venturing into this life time commitment. Fr. Akaa said “according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, divorce is not allowed; as a matter of fact divorce is a sin before God. He said children are blessings from God and parents should accept the children whether sickle cell or not and should be treated as gifts and blessings from God. This calls for seriousness on the part of the couples to do the right thing before marriage in order not to consider divorce after exchange of vows.”
Even in the era of civilization, sickle cell related diseases are interpreted as spiritual manipulations. Marriages are still being contracted on erotic love and most times with parental recommendations without recourse to ascertaining the genotype of the actors.
In many situations, genotype related crisis have wiped out children and caused trauma in marriages, thereby removing every iota of happiness. Medical experts say that an AS genotype man is a mismatch for an AS woman. Where they produce kids, it is more likely that SS comes into their biological consternation. An SS genotype person is termed a “sickler.” He or she never get well and is prone to every opportunistic disease.
However, while others are getting aware of the importance of knowing their genotype before proceeding in the marriage process, many intending couples have continued to ask unscientific questions. Some people are clearly condoned by the benefits they may derive from a marriage, much more than health issues.
Sickle cell is a genetic disorder that cuts across all races and as at today, it ranks amongst the topmost challenges of modern medicine because there is yet no clear remedy to this menace. It is a problem inherent within the blood system.
Anyone who has ever been a witness to the great anguish that a “sickler” goes through during the period of crisis will definitely not need the eloquence of a preacher, before reconsidering the decision of going into marriage if both partners are incompatible.
