The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has pledged to continue supporting campaigns to reduce the spread of sickle cell disease in Kano State.
The commitment was made during a one-day advocacy seminar held in Kano to mark the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day.
The event, themed “Faith Based Advocacy for Sickle Cell Prevention and Genotype Awareness in Kano State,” brought together Muslim and Christian religious leaders.
The seminar focused on how faith-based organisations can help prevent sickle cell disease through public awareness, premarital counselling and genotype screening.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kano, represented by Reverend Bitrus Nuhu, described sickle cell disease as a serious inherited blood disorder that remains a major burden on families and communities.
He urged couples planning to marry to know their genotype before marriage and called for better care for people living with the condition through subsidised treatment and stronger partnerships with health organisations.
The Chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, also stressed the need for compulsory health screening before marriage. He called for mandatory certificates showing HIV status, genotype, hepatitis status and other important health checks for intending couples.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Dr Annette Akinsete, said Nigeria has the highest burden of sickle cell disease in the world.
She explained that the disease is inherited and affects haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
Dr Akinsete said, “Nigeria bears the highest burden of sickle cell disease worldwide,” adding that the disease places emotional and financial pressure on affected families.
She urged religious leaders to make genotype testing compulsory before marriages are conducted in churches and mosques.
Represented by High Chief Lamido Abubakar Bayero, Emir Sanusi reaffirmed his support for programmes that improve public health.
The Emir also said the Kano Emirate has directed district leaders to improve data collection on pregnancies, births and other health indicators to strengthen healthcare planning across the state.
