Q&A with Dr. Annette Akinsete
Dr. Annette Akinsete
MBBS, DTM&H, MPH, FMCPH, Dipl Broadcasting
National Director/Chief Executive Officer - Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria
Dr. Annette Ofunne Akinsete has been the CEO/National Director of Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria since 2013, where she continues to propel successful innovative strategies for the prevention, management, care and support of sickle cell disorder through – inter alia – Public Private Partnerships, Arts in Medicine and Family Support Systems.
Annette Akinsete is a woman of many parts; she is – inter alia – a Consultant Public Health Physician, an astute Administrator, a Teacher and a Broadcaster.
A distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, she was Director in the Public Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Health for many years, where she was known as “The Leader of Leaders”, and has represented the Federal Government of Nigeria at several multi-lateral and bilateral engagements all over the world.
As a Public Health Physician, Akinsete has worked in every level of government in Nigeria – from local to State and to Federal levels. At global level, she has contributed to World Health Organisation (WHO) publications on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), served as WHO Fellow in Geneva and as UN Cares Facilitator at the United Nations HQ in New York.
Dr. Akinsete, who is a member of several professional bodies, also serves as a Commissioner on the Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission, an Adjunct Lecturer at the Eko University of Medicine and a member of the Board of the University of Ibadan Research Foundation.
She is a key resource person for the West African Health Organisation and represents Women’s Board at the United Nations.
A Chartered Management Consultant and a recipient of numerous awards, Akinsete continues to be involved in the formation of young girls as a Brownie Owl.
Questions and Answers
NO. Hydroxyurea does not prevent someone from having children with sickle cell disorder.
Hydroxyurea is said to modify the disease in a person with sickle cell disorder, thereby making the patient feel better. It does this by increasing the level of a special type of Haemoglobin in the blood – called Haemoglobin F; so that the patient’s red blood cells remain large, more flexible and round – that is, less likely to turn into a sickle shape. By so doing, hydroxyurea prevents sickle cell crises or reduces the frequency of crises, and improves quality of life as well as life span/longevity.
- To manage crisis that has already set in by:
- Drinking warm water
- Getting someone to massage your body – especially the limbs
- Taking over-the-counter pain medicines (eg Paracetamol; Ibuprofen)
- Watching your favourite films or shows
- Painting/Drawing
- Listening to music
- Arranging to see the doctor
- Take your Routine medication daily - Folic Acid & Medicine for Malaria prevention daily
- Drink plenty of water/fluids – at least 3L of water daily (6 – 12 glasses of water daily – depending on age – your doctor would have advised on how much exactly) – but even when you are not thirsty, just drink
- Eat balanced diet – fruits and vegetables – ensure you have many colours in your plate
- Avoid excessive physical exercise; know your limits
- Avoid extreme cold – air conditioners, aircraft, if you travel to colder parts of the country or the world (OR wear WARM CLOTHING when your environment is cold)
- Avoid extreme heat – being out in the sun for long periods; you should actually use an umbrella as shade from the sun
- Know yourself/Study yourself and know when a crisis is coming and deal with it early (if you are a parent listening, STUDY your child)
- Learn to cope with pain using non-pharmacological methods – Prayer, meditation, drawing, painting, listening to music, etc.
- Join support groups – Sickle Cell Clubs; if there is none, you can form a group
- Remember that Health is a state of COMPLETE PHYSICAL, MENTAL & SOCIAL WELLBEING – so you must take care of all these dimensions of your health (SOCIAL CONNECTIONS vital) – deep social connections – not social media type!
- See your doctor regularly – whether you feel well or not
- Go to the hospital when you are ill – do not self-diagnose; see the doctor early before complications set in;
- Mental health – it’s quite common for people with sickle cell disorder to feel frustrated & feel “tired of life”… when feelings of despondency or depression set in, TALK TO SOMEONE
- Do have a positive mindset; love yourself; do not blame yourself or blame your parents;
- Visit the National Sickle Cell Centre, Surulere, Lagos
If you are in Lagos, come to our centre – Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Ishaga Road, (opposite LUTH), Surulere, Lagos. You will be seen by one of our experienced, expert Genetic Counsellors; and you will need to keep up with your follow-up appointments with the Counsellor.
If you are outside Lagos, you could email us at info@sicklecellfoundation.com, or simply call us on 08100002001 or 08100002003. And we can take it from there.
People with Haemoglobin CC are said to have Haemoglobin C disease. However, Haemoglobin C disease is not a form of sickle cell disorder.
People who have haemoglobin C disease may have mild anaemia (mild shortage of blood). Haemoglobin C disease usually does not cause serious health problems.
Therefore, I would suggest that, first of all, you see a doctor and lay out your complaints, repeat your Haemoglobin blood test (in a reputable centre like ours – the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Ishaga Road, Surulere, Lagos (opposite LUTH) – in order to confirm your Haemoglobin type, because the severe jaundice you describe may well be due to health problems other than Hb C disease.
As a young man with Sickle Cell disorder, he should be taking on average, about 3 Litres of water daily. Persons with Sickle Cell disorder are advised to drink lots of water whether they feel thirsty or not. This will help move the blood cells that block the blood vessels along.
For the hearing issue, you have to take him to see a doctor, who will listen to ALL his complaints, examine him and make a diagnosis. The doctor may refer him to an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. So first, take him to see a doctor in a general hospital and we’ll take it from there.