As part of the efforts to combat the spread of
sickle cell disease in Ekiti State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is ready
to sponsor a private bill that would make it mandatory for intending couples to
go for compulsory blood test before marriage.
The bill, according to NBA, will reduce untimely
death among Nigerians, especially the loss of loved ones which is now rampant
due to sickle cell disease.
The NBA Chairman of Ado Ekiti branch, Olakanmi
Falade, said the bill would be sponsored to the Ekiti State House of Assembly
for acceptance and passage.
Falade added that the action was in honour of the
late Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs.
Seyi Ojo, who died of sickle cell complication on December 25, 2019.
He said: "It is sad that we are losing our
loved ones to sickle cell disease, so the best way to control this is to ensure
compulsory genotype test for intending couples.
"Science had proved it that two with AS
genotype grouping can't get married without recording cases of sickle cell in
their offspring.
"But with compulsory blood test, couples can
know their genotype groupings and determine the safe ones that can guarantee a
better life for them.
"If the private bill becomes law, it would now
be compulsory for couples to produce genotype certificates before their
marriages can be conducted."
Falade also pledged his willingness to sponsor a
sickle cell carrier in the state, Miss Morayo Kokumo, up to her university
level.
The NBA chairman, who said he was doing this in
view of what his late colleague, Seyi Ojo, stood for in her lifetime, promised
that the NBA would continually give support to sickle cell carriers to
ameliorate their sufferings.
The lawyer described Ojo as a notable and vibrant
activist and advocate of gender parity, who had fought many battles against gender-based
violence in the state during her life time.
According Falade, "Ojo was a very dependable
ally, responsible, reliable and tireless leader of the Bar both at the level of
NBA and Ekiti State FIDA. I made the donation in her honour."
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