By Blessing Chinwendu Ekwem
Kano Monarch, Emir Muhammad Sunusi, has pledged to continue to embark on mass campaign against the menace of sickle cell disease in Kano, North West Nigeria.
Kano religious leaders, have also gave their commitment to the fight against the disease.
They bared their minds during the one day advocacy seminar organized to mark the 2026 World Sickle Cell day, held on June 18, 2026, in Kano.
Our correspondent reports that , the seminar with the theme, Faith Based Advocacy for Sickle Cell Prevention and Genotype Awareness in Kano State featured Muslim and Christian clerics drawn from various denominations.
The religious leaders dissect the role of faith based institutions in combating sickle cell disease (SCD) through awareness, premarital counselling, and genotype screening.
The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kano branch, represented by Reverend Bitrus Nuhu, said that sickle cell disease was a serious inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation in the HBB gene, leading to abnormal, sickle shaped red blood cells that obstruct blood flow and cause severe health complications.
According to him, the disease is a significant challenge and burden to families, communities, and the nation at large.
He emphasized the need for intending couples to engage in medical tests to determine their status before getting married.
He further advocate for the provision of adequate care for individuals living with the condition through the provision of subsidised treatment, saying that it is key to mobilize partnerships with various health organisations and outreach programmes.
In his remarks , the chairman, Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalid, lamented that sickle cell disease is a major challenge with burdening financial implications.
He called for the need to impose mandatory certification of intended couples to determine their HIV status, genotype, hepatitis status, and other relevant health screenings prior to marriage.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, National Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Annette Akinsete disclosed that sickle cell disease is a group of inherited disorders affecting haemoglobin, the major protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells.
Akinsete further explained that under normal conditions, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible, enabling them to move easily through blood vessels.
“sickle shaped due to a gene mutation affecting the haemoglobin molecule,” Akinsete stated.
She hinted that Nigeria bears the highest burden of sickle cell disease worldwide, through the trauma and emotional toll it places on affected families.
She added that the illness constitutes a significant burden, causing damage, straining marriages, and increasing financial demands on households.
Dr. Akinsete revealed that sickle cell disease can be tackled through sustained awareness campaigns and by ensuring that every prospective couple undergoes genotype testing before marriage.
She urged religious leaders to mandate testing as a prerequisite for solemnising marriages in churches and mosques.
The Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammad Sunusi declared his uwaivering support to programmes that will enhance the health benefits of the people of Kano and humanity at large.
The royal father, represented by High Chief Lamido Abubakar Bayero, described the Emir as a leader who consistently encourages progress for the betterment of humanity.
He disclosed that the Emirate has engaged district leaders on the importance of proper data collection, including the number of deliveries and pregnant women within their respective areas, as part of broader health monitoring efforts.
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