By ABDULLAHI JALALUDDEEN; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Kano State Government says more than 13,000 persons living with sickle cell disorder are currently benefiting from free healthcare services under its Abba Care programme designed to improve their quality of life.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Rahila Mukhtar, disclosed this during a sensitization walk organised by the agency as part of activities marking the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day celebration in Kano.
Mukhtar described sickle cell disorder as a chronic health condition that requires continuous medical attention and substantial financial resources for effective management, noting that the state government introduced the Abba Care initiative to ease the burden on affected individuals and their families.
She said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf approved the programme to provide free healthcare services to sickle cell patients across the State, thereby improving access to treatment and reducing the financial challenges associated with the disease.
According to her, the State government is also intensifying efforts to curb the prevalence of sickle cell disorder through policies promoting premarital genotype screening, aimed at preventing the birth of children with the condition and reducing the social and health challenges associated with it.
Mukhtar urged parents and guardians to encourage early genotype testing for their children before marriage discussions begin, stressing that timely screening would help families make informed decisions and avoid future complications related to sickle cell disease.
