Are you one of the many people who wrongly believe that incurable
diseases like Sickle Cell Disease and even disabilities come from curses or
witchcraft because their parents, community, native doctor or even some “pastor”
said so? I write this educative post as a demystification of cultural views on Sickle
Cell Disease (SCD)
SCD has no cure for most people. It is most common among
people of African descent.
How Fatal
is SCD?
SCD is so fatal it can cause life-threatening complications.
They include a stroke, acute chest syndrome from a lung infection, fever, chest
pain, and difficulty breathing.
SCD has treatments that can relieve pain and help prevent issues
associated with the disease.
Cultural
Views of SCD
Some cultures think SCD is punishment from the gods.
In the Middle East, India, Africa, South and North America
and other places, cultural beliefs about SCD exist. However, these beliefs are relatively
not widespread in the western world, thanks to more awareness and advanced
treatment.
Sadly, many people wrongfully believe that SCD is a mysterious
illness sent by the gods or some evil person. They have various primitive and cultural
concepts about the condition.
The Yoruba in Nigeria for example call it “Abiku” which is
translated as “Born to Die”. And millions of them like elsewhere in Africa and
other countries actually believe it’s a curse from the gods. The truth and the
fact are, SCD is a hereditary condition that is not mysterious but medical. The
more people are fully aware of this, the more SCD is understood and treated.
Ritual “Solutions”
to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
In this day and age, we don’t have to continue to believe in
ritual treatments that our ancestors passed down from generation to generation.
They did so because they lacked advanced hospitals and medical information on most
illnesses. Not everything is spiritual.
It’s unhealthy and misleading to attribute SCD (a genetic condition)
to a mysterious evil source such as A or B “has used evil powers, sorcery, or
witchcraft against my child or us the parents.”
If your child is born with SCD, know that it’s because both
parents have sickle cell disease or sickle trait. Taking a sickle cell trait
test is the best way couples can know that they both have the sickle cell trait
and avoid having a child together.
Seek treatment via a healthcare provider and do only what doctors
and experienced SCD patients such as Suzzy Muke advise you do as a -based
treatment for the condition. Please, remember to always speak to your
healthcare provider about any treatment you want to try.
After putting in much effort in terms of finance, love, care,
and running around during pain episodes, some families may be tempted to turn
to rituals for curing SCD which is impossible.
Need for
Extensive Community Education and Persecution of Unyielding Parents
As someone living with SCD and without a major pain crisis
for years, I write to sensitize families, other SCD patients, all stakeholders,
human rights activists and government arms to educate people and enact laws abolishing
SCD-related rituals. If implemented, the action will save lots of SCD patients
(children and adults) who are forced to succumb to rituals or spiritual
cleansing for SCD and other incurable diseases.
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