Sickle Cell Disease Is Not A Taboo
A sickle cell disease ambassador and a nurse, Naa Appiah has urged Ghanaians to debunk the negative myths surrounding sickle cell disease.
Naa Appiah in a focusnewsroom interview with Maame Adwoa Brembah mentioned that the low level of education about sickle cell disease in Ghana makes people associate the disease with ‘witchcraft’ and other outrageous myths.
She further explained that sickle cell disease is hereditary and not contagious. She added that sickle cell patients can equally live for longer years as compared to persons not living with sickle cell disease
Naa Appiah stressed on the fact that the low level of education on sickle cell disease has caused an increased number of children born with sickle cell traits in Ghana.
She further added that both literates and illiterates in the country are ignorant about the sickle cell disease and their sickle cell status because the education on the disease is low across the country.
“People still don’t know about the sickle cell disease and it will amaze you that people who have gone to school to the university level still don’t know what sickle cell disease is and I think the education has not gone down well in the country”.
The sickle cell ambassador said some Non-governmental organizations are doing their best to enlighten Ghanaians especially those in the junior high schools and senior high schools about sickle cell disease.
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Mercy Agyarkwah/focusnewsroom.com
