Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - Professor Stephen Addae, Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, on Thursday urged Ghanaians to be concerned with issues relating to sickle cells disease since research had shown that about 20 per cent of citizens had the traits. He said although having the sickle cells trait did not mean that one had the disease, any offspring from parents with the traits would automatically inherit the disease.

Prof. Addae made the call at the 2007 Annual Lecture organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra under the theme: "Who is a Sickle Cell Person".

He explained that the disease, which occurred as a result of inheritance of two abnormal genes, reduced the lifespan of those suffering from the disease and caused changes in cells due to low oxygen tension.

He mentioned anaemia, continuous yellowish eyes, jaundice, dehydration, poor growth and infertility as some symptoms of sickle cell and described them as path physiological correlations, which called for improved diet and healthy lifestyles to sustain patients. Prof. Addae said it had become evident that feeding patients with the right nutritional needs could prolong their lifespan, since patients were now living longer than in the past.

He advised patients to take folic acid instead of iron, since their bodies could produce high volumes of iron and have the habit of drinking a lot of water.

Prof. Addae said drinking more water would help correct deficiencies in the kidneys of patients since they passed five to six litters of urine in an hour or two, which was abnormal. 07 Sept. 07