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The Bill to make premarital genotype test compulsory on Tuesday scaled through second reading in the Senate.
The Bill makes it compulsory for intending couples to undergo genotype test to determine their group, with the aim of reducing the spread of Sickle Cell Disease.
The bill would guide patient of same disease from getting married to each other.
The bill sponsored by Senator Ahmed Ogembe (PDP Kogi Central) was unanimously passed and referred to the committee on health for further deliberation and public hearings and return to the floor of the Senate for further legislative action.
Ogembe called on his colleagues during his presentation to allow the passage of the bill because it deals with people’s life.
“Sickle Cell Disease, (SCD) causes pains and complications that interfere with many aspects of a patients life, including education, employment and psychological development.
Sen. Ogembe, who quoted the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Medicine said; “Nigeria is known to have the greatest number of sickle cell disease patient per country in the world.
“American Centre for Disease, Control and Prevention revealed that slightly above 300,000 babies globally are born with sickle cell disease: 225,000 are born in Sub – Saharan Africa representing 75% of global figure.
“Nigeria with a figure of 150,000 babies born with severe sickle cell disease, carries 66% of the sub Saharan burden and 50% of the global burden of babies born with severe sickle cell disease.
In his contribution, Senator Magnus Abe (APC, Rivers state) described the bill as important and timely, urging his colleagues to the give all necessary support it deserves.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agage (APC, Delta state) commended the sponsor of the bill, Senator Ogembe for the well researched work, describing it as capable of drastically reducing the scourge of the disease.
He added that the bill must seek free treatment for the people living with the disease in the country.
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