By Emma Elebeke

No fewer than 27 genetic counsellors have graduated from a genetic counseling training programme organized by Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria and MTN Foundation in Lagos.

Speaking at the graduation and award presentation ceremony held at Sickle Cell Foundation Centre Idi-Araba, Lagos, Director MTN Foundation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi said that the two weeks intensive training course on genetic counseling, would position the participants to enhance healthcare delivery in the country, especially in the area of sickle cell disorder management.

Prince Adeluyi said that the ceremony was crucial because prevention of sickle cell disorder through career identification, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnosis remain the best measure to stem the tide of the scourge in the society.

The MTN director added the foundation also sponsor sickle cell clinics in Lagos, Edo, Delta and Kano states, with free drugs and counseling services to over 5,357 beneficiaries.

MTN Foundation: From leftMs. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation; Mrs. Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Former Deputy Governor, Lagos State and Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Director, MTN Foundation at the Closing Ceremony of the 13th Genetic Counseling Training Course on Sickle Cell Disorder sponsored by MTN Foundation, on Friday.

“ We are recording another milestone in our collective efforts to provide a comprehensive strategy against the scourge of sickle cell disorder in our society with passing out of new set of counselors.

Those graduating today are now ready to join their colleagues in the field to contribute in combating the scourge as well as educate couples on the disorder, probabilities, limitations, and the consequences,” he added.

In her address, the former deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sara Sosan with the spread of genetic counselors across the country, the message would get to the grass root level.

Even with the spread of counselors, Mrs. Sosan noted that many people, especially the youths are still not sure of their genotype group. She therefore urged the participants to take the message to schools, since it is where relationships start.

To further spread the message to the local people, the former Lagos deputy governor also charged stakeholders to break the language into the local languages. Sosan also urged wealthy Nigerian not to flaunt their wealth in frivolities but channel them towards such gestures that would affect lives positively.