Do Not Give Birth If You Have Sickle Cells – MP Joyce Bagala Advises

The woman MP of Mityana district, Hon Joyce Bagala has advised people looking to become parents to first test for sickle cell anemia. She said if they happen to have it, they shouldn’t give birth at all.

Apparently, she said that this disease is hereditary. The only way a person can know if they have it or a history of it in their family is by testing.

If you find at all that you are carriers of the disease, it’s a probability that you will have a child with it. Therefore, there is no reason to bring a child and put them in such pain.

The only solution is to give up on birth. Besides, parents who have children with sickle cell anemia need a lot of support.

Hon Joyce Bagala also revealed how she found out that her child has sickle cell when he was about 8-9 months.

“Test for Sickle Cell Anemia. That is the only way you can prevent the spread of Sickle Cell Anemia. It is hereditary. If you learn that both of you (you and your partner) are Sickle Cell carriers, then give up on childbirth, because you are not sure. It is a probability. Once you and your partner are Sickle Cell carriers, chances are you will have a child that has Sickle Cell Anemia. There is no reason for you to put a child in that much pain,” she said.

Sickle cell anemia is caused by disorders that make red blood cells misshapen and break down. Usually, the sickle cells pool in the spleen and this causes a drop in hemoglobin.

The spleen then becomes enlarged and painful from the increase in blood volume. As a result, it (spleen) becomes scarred and damaged.

The condition is usually managed by medication, blood transfusions, and a rare bone marrow transplant. However, in most cases, the condition is always fatal.