The decision to undergo a health screening to determine whether you carry the sickle cell trait before entering a serious romantic relationship is a step that deserves sincere recognition.
A group of female students has taken a significant lead at the College of Business Education College of Business Education (CBE) compared to their male counterparts.
This development brings a new perspective, showing that young women are increasingly being reached with accurate information about this genetic condition and are making informed decisions before starting families.
Tanzania is still not in a strong global position, as it ranks fourth in the world in the number of children born with Sickle Cell Disease.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows an increase in the number of children born with the condition, rising from 11,000 per year to 14,000, a trend that calls for stronger community interventions.
Education about this disease and the importance of early screening for the sickle cell trait before entering relationships and having children remains a critical issue.
For many years now, sickle cell disease has remained one of the major health challenges affecting thousands of children and families in Tanzania.
Despite improvements in healthcare services, experts say there is still a long way to go in ensuring that young people receive accurate information and undergo early testing to know their genetic status.
The KETAN SCD campaign, implemented at CBE by the Bone and Blood Foundation Bone and Blood Foundation in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Disease Patient's Community of Tanzania, revealed an important trend.
One student, Joyce Lawrence, said that after receiving education, she was motivated to get tested.
“I took the test and received my results quickly. I feel relieved. I do not have the disease and I do not carry the trait. Young people should not be afraid; they should come forward for screening,” she said.
Many students showed strong interest in understanding about sickle cell disease, with female students demonstrating greater engagement by asking questions and seeking to understand their health status.
Over 4,000 students have been educated about Sickle Cell Disease, with more than 92 taking the step to undergo genetic testing.
This reflects a growing awareness among young people about the importance of education on the disease.
“Honestly, the level of curiosity among female students was higher than that of male students. Even those who were curious and eager to learn more were mostly girls,”.
.., said Dr. Rhobi Jeremiah from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences [MUHAS] in an exclusive interview with M24 TANZANIA MEDIA.
She said one of the reasons women seek more information about sickle cell disease is their close observation of its impact on children and families.
“I remember one young woman telling me she had witnessed a child living in very difficult conditions with his mother because of sickle cell disease,” she said.
“She added that she does not wish to experience what she saw that mother and child go through.”
According to Dr. Rhobi, women often better understand the challenges caused by certain diseases because they carry a greater responsibility in child care and family support.
“Mothers are very compassionate, and they do not wish to have children who will suffer and whom they will have to continuously care for,” she explained.
However, she emphasized that despite the strong response from women, education on sickle cell disease must reach all young people regardless of gender.
“Everyone in society needs to know and take action. When a mother or sister gains knowledge, she will want to act on it because this issue affects the entire family,” she said.
The Bone and Blood Foundation Director, Neema Mohamed, said the education and genetic screening provided to CBE students is a powerful “weapon” in breaking the cycle of sickle cell disease.
She emphasized that when a young person is informed, they are able to make responsible decisions when entering relationships, ultimately helping reduce the number of children born with the disease.
“I encourage people to participate in conferences like these where we provide education on sickle cell disease. Society should recognize the seriousness of this issue and get involved so that we can break this cycle,” she said.
She added that many families continue to carry a heavy burden due to lack of information and early screening.
“Sickle cell disease is painful. Raising a child with such challenges pushes many things backward,” she said.
Through this campaign, students receive education and undergo sickle cell screening alongside other health services, and also underwent sickle cell screening.
The President of the CBE Student Government, Mnandwa Mnandwa, expressed appreciation for the campaign being brought to the institution.
“We are about 15,000 students. In a single day, 8,000 to 9,000 attend classes. Since sessions run from morning to evening, many students were reached,” he said.
“We were educated about various disease". He added that young people need accurate information to make better decisions about their health and future lives.
She emphasized that many young people still do not know their genetic status despite being at the age of starting families.
“The number of children born with sickle cell disease is increasing. Young people do not know their status, and awareness is still low,” she said.
“If you ask in a room, those who raise their hands are often those who already have children, while others sit unaware of whether they carry the trait.”
She concluded that investing in education and early screening among young people is a key step in reducing the impact of the disease on current and future generations.
Chapisha Maoni