By Omagha Idam
The Spokesperson of Kano State Governor, Malam Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa has vowed to embark on massive crusade to see to the end of Sickle Cell Anaemia and ensure it becomes history in the state by 2034.
He made the statement during stone laying foundation of Sadiq Maddibo Memorial Quranic Centre at Dawakin Tofa town today.
Malam Bature disclosed that already discussion on how to achieve the target was done between him and Sickle cell community in the state, adding that ” we are going to pursue a robust and strategic plan to ensure in the next 10 there will be no sickle cell boy or girl delivered in Kano State God Willing.”
He said the the signing of Kano Pre-marital Law which prohibits couple marriage with possibility of delivering sickle cell pateint, the advocacy is being supported to ensure no such marriage is institutionalised in the state.
The Spokesperson said the law supported fully by Islamic scholars, lamenting that as a victim of the disease whereby two of my children are battling with it, one of them just died recently, it has to be fought with all seriousness.
According to him sickle cell is more terrible than HIV, stressing that “as citizens, as community, as advocate, as people of government we shall do everything humanly possible to ensure that our people are sensitised against marriage between AS and AS or SS and SS or AS and SS so that the tendency of giving birth to sickle cell anaemia is totally avoided.
Malam Bature who is also the Director General Media and Publicity Kano Government House, lamented that living with Sickle Cell is like living on death row.
He narrated that “my son late Sadiq lived almost 15 years with Sickle Cell anaemia and 14. 5 years he suffered with sickle cell, was admitted into different hospitals for more than 1000 days, he was injected 1000 times,” noting that since it is avoidable disease it would be stopped”.
He called on people to adhere to the state law that mandated pre marital test. This was contained in a Statement issued by Usman Gwadabe, Director Public Enlightenment, Kano Government House