Kumasi, Oct. 17, GNA - Dr Osei Akoto, Head of Child Health Directorate of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has commended management of Ghana Health Service (GHS) for introducing sickle cell screening for new born babies at hospitals to help reduce child mortality in the country. He said most of the babies born with sickle cell diseases died at tender age but due to the screening, they were able to be treated and survived. Dr Akoto made the commendation at the on-going second annual International Health Fair seminar organised by Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kumasi. The eight-day fair being attended by health providers drawn from the country was to educate the public on various health issues to lead a healthy life. Dr Akoto said children born with sickle cell disease often suffered from stroke, chronic leg ulcers, hip neurosis, and poor academic performance, and was among the commonest diseases after malaria and diarrhoea. He appealed to the public to test their blood groups before marriage and said treatment of the disease was expensive. Dr Akoto advised Ghanaians to register with National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to seek quality and affordable health care delivery.