Kumasi, Oct 18, GNA - Dr. Osei Akoto of the Child Health Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has commended the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for the introduction of sickle cell screening for new born babies after delivery at the hospitals which has helped in reducing child death rate in the country. He said most of the babies are born with sickle cell diseases which tend to kill them at the tender age but due to the screening, purposely to detect the disease, they are able to be treated to enable them to survive. Dr Akoto made the commendation at the on-going second annual International Health Fair seminar organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kumasi. The eight-day fair which is being attended by health providers drawn from the country was aimed at educating the public on the various health issues concerning how to lead a healthy life. He said people who are born with the sickle cell disease often suffered from stroke, chronic leg ulcers, hip neurosis, as well as poor school performance, adding that sickle cell disease is among the commonest diseases after malaria and diarrhoea. Dr Akoto appealed to the general public to test their blood groups before marriage and said the treatment of the disease is expensive and not easy to afford. He advised Ghanaians to register with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to seek quality health delivery at the hospitals at a reduced cost. 18 Oct. 08