By Hannah Ogunlabi Nigerian singer Adekunle has stressed the importance of genotype testing before marriage, saying couples should know their genotype and ensure they are compatible before having children. Speaking during an interview, Adekunle said there is still a need for more awareness about sickle cell, adding that people should be properly informed about the condition before making decisions about marriage and having children.
Adekunle said that when he and his wife met, one of the first things they did was to check their genotypes to know whether they were compatible. “When we met,the first thing we did was to know our genotype that we match,” Adekunle said. When the interviewer asked how the genotype test is carried out, Adekunle explained that it is a simple test.
“Yes its easy test, you do it and then they tell you she’s AA and I’m AS. So you have to do that first,” he said. Adekunle also spoke about the importance of considering the possible risks of having children when couples have genotypes that could increase the chances of sickle cell disease.
He said people with sickle cell should not allow the condition to prevent them from achieving their goals, but added that couples should make informed decisions before having children. “We tell people, if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can’t do it, it makes no sense,” he said. Adekunle explained that having a child who could be sickly could create difficult circumstances for the family.
“Because you’re about to bring a child into the world and about to be sickly, what is the point?” he said. When the interviewer asked how he would have handled the situation if his wife had sickle cell, Adekunle replied, “There’s no way I would have done that.” Vanguard News