Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold, has called on intending couples to undergo genotype testing before marriage, emphasising the need to establish compatibility before deciding to have children.
Speaking during an interview, Adekunle Gold said more awareness was needed about sickle cell and urged people to understand the condition and its implications before making important decisions about marriage and parenthood.
According to the singer, checking genotype was among the first steps he and his wife took when they met, as they wanted to determine whether they were medically compatible.
“When we met,the first thing we did was to know our genotype that we match,” Adekunle said.
Responding to a question on how genotype testing is conducted, Adekunle described the process as straightforward, explaining that couples simply need to undergo the test to determine their respective genotypes.
“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.
He further highlighted the need for couples to consider the potential consequences of having children when their genotypes may increase the risk of sickle cell disease.
While stressing that people living with sickle cell should continue to pursue their ambitions and not allow the condition to limit their lives, he said couples must carefully consider the health implications before having children.
“We tell people, if you have sickle cell, forget love, you can’t do it, it makes no sense,” he said.
The singer noted that having a child who may suffer from serious health challenges could place considerable emotional and other burdens on a family.
“Because you’re about to bring a child into the world and about to be sickly, what is the point?” he said.
When asked how he would have responded if his wife had sickle cell, Adekunle said he would not have proceeded with the marriage under such circumstances.
“There’s no way I would have done that.”
