GMABC promotes sickle cell awareness on World Sickle Cell Day

Global Media Alliance Broadcasting Company (GMABC)comprising of e.TV Ghana, Happy FM and YFM, has created public awareness on the sickle cell disease by using its platforms to educate the general public about how to manage sickle cell as the World Sickle Cell Day is commemorated.
The United Nations General Assembly in 2008 established the World Sickle Cell Day in order to increase awareness about the Sickle Cell Disease and its cure among the general public. The day, however, was celebrated for the first time on the 19th of June 2009.
As part of its activities to sensitize the public about sickle cell, GMABC engaged health experts in discussions on sickle cell and the common misconceptions about the disease.
Paediatrician at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr. Yvonne Nana Brew, educated viewers on e.TV’s Ghana’s African Women Voices on one important precautionary measure to take before meeting or settling down with their partners.
“You need to get the HB electrophoresis test. Please don’t take a sickling test because that will only tell you that you do not have an S gene. It does not tell you that you do not have a C or any other among the types of genes.
Just take an HB Electrophoresis test so that you know you’re an A gene with an S, and then you can make the decision that if you marry and have a child with anyone who is also an AS, you know what you’re getting into”, she told host Eunice Tornyi.
Medical Officer at the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics (Sickle Cell Clinic), Dr. Grace Naa Amoh, in an interview with Brown Berry on the YFM ‘RyseNShyne’ show, raised concerns about the stigmatization of people with sickle cell disease.
It is very unfortunate that we stigmatize people with sickle cell. Someone getting sickle cell disease is by no fault of theirs”, she said.
She advised that we support sickle cell patients, especially during these COVID-19 times.
“People with sickle cell disease are in the high-risk group of people who can contract COVID-19. One of the major causes of death in sickle cell patients is what we call acute chest syndrome. An acute chest syndrome can be brought on by respiratory infections or diseases including viral infections such as COVID-19. So in this time, we need our sickle cell patients to be very careful”, she explained.
Director of broadcasting at GMABC, Timothy Karikari, noted that the broadcasting giants dedicated all their platforms to push this agenda because it was important that we don’t lose sight of the people who may be suffering the most during this COVID-19 period.
“While we focus on COVID-19 and the need to curb it, we must not forget our family members, friends, colleagues and others who are fighting a double battle, Sickle Cell and COVID-19. People need to understand what sickle cell is all about so together we can fight it. This is why GMABC has been relentless in its effort to create public awareness of sickle cell on World Sickle Cell Day.
Mr. Karikari further extended his gratitude to all the health experts and organizations who joined in the efforts to educate the public on sickle cell.
Visit www.etvghana.com, www.happyghana.com and www.yfmghana.com for more updates.