I was inundated with calls and messages about a trending video of a woman purportedly claiming to treat sickle cell disease with a concoction of orange juice and raw egg.

In the video, the woman who was seen claiming that a mixture of orange juice and raw eggs administered to her son with sickle cell disorder, cured him permanently without them having to rely on hospitals for medical treatments again.

While the woman deliberately shielded her son's identity from public view inorder not for concerned individuals to ascertain the extent of his illness and ask pertinent questions about her son's professional medical management, it is sad to say that the remedies she proffered should be a source for possible bacterial infections which is a nightmare for sickle cell patients.

It is disheartening to see the extent people can go for cheap publicity because of monetization of social media, thereby putting the health of others at risk. Such unhealthy remedies has no place in medical science and would only worsen the sickle cell condition. It is also important to note that in genotype education we have several types of phynotype, SS, SC, etc. What works for you might not work for another SCD patient. As a matter of fact Sickle Cell is of various degree, the chronic cases, the normal cases and the anemic cases with each varied management.

It is worthy of mention that sickle cell disease remains incurable and can only be managed through effective medication by visiting hospitals and establishing the correct diagnosis.

Other preventive measures like staying rehydrated, protecting the body from mosquito bites, staying in a clean and well ventilated room devoid of any bacteria infection, feeding well with nutritional values, avoiding news that could lead to shocks and traumatic situation, depressive state, avoiding stressful physically activities or tasks capable of triggering sickle cell crisis. All these rule and guidelines should be strictly adhered.

Moreso, the government at all levels should be proactive with policy making to address the challenges faced by sickle cell patients, and this include giving priority to our healthcare services by equipping them with modern facilities and reducing costs of treatment, which is a major reason for the emergence of quackery and unorthodox practices of vendors due to harsh economic conditions.

The purveyors of such unhealthy remedies in the treatment of sickle cell disease should be sternly warned to desist from discouraging patients from seeking medical attention as it poses a great danger to their health and wellbeing, thereby causing severe loss of lives and avoidable deaths in SCD community.

Management of sickle cell disorder should be handled by professionals especially experts like hematologists, and no room left for ignorant pretenders to paddle their deceptive and exploitative inclinations to the detriment of innocent victims who are already impoverished by financial distress caused by frequent breakdowns from sickle cell complications.

Aisha Edwards Maduagwu,
National Coordinator,
APLSCD and
Director Sickle Cell Orphanage and Underprivileged Home Agulu.
08033222007.