Most families in Ghana are being affected directly or indirectly by undiagnosed health challenges, which contribute to low quality of life and avoidable death in some cases.
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency, one of such silent killers is an inherited enzyme disorder that can trigger life-threatening anemia when a defective individual is exposed to some triggers.
However, G6PD deficiency remains conspicuously absent from public consciousness even as it silently affects approximately 12.4% of Ghana's population according to research finding.
This article aims to provide basic information on this deficiency, its causes, effects, preventive practices as well as managing its crisis.
Deficiency
G6PD Deficiency results from a structural defect in G6PD, a "housekeeping" enzyme that is particularly important for the survival of red blood cells and their ability to respond to oxidative stress.
It is the most common enzyme deficiency in humans, affecting about 500 million people worldwide of which males are more due to genetic predisposition, with a high prevalence in Africa especially in malaria endemic countries.
G6PD deficiency mainly manifests in hemolytic crises – destruction of red blood cells leading to the loss of hemoglobin.
This occurs when triggers are encountered, similarly as in sickle cell disease and anemia.
Common triggers include fava beans, certain antibiotics, antimalarial drugs like primaquine, and even camphor balls containing naphthalene which must be avoided to prevent deficiency crisis.
Crises are preventable through trigger avoidance; however, individuals, parents and families remain uninformed of status and crises prevention practices until emergencies occur.
Despite Ghana's policy of routine antenatal screening for G6PD deficiency, awareness among mothers remains alarmingly low, with studies showing that many women remain uninformed about the condition even after testing.
A number of people have at a time heard of the condition or checked their status, but only a few know what it really is and how it can be managed to ensure a healthy living.
This awareness gap extends to the broader population, where knowledge of G6PD deficiency lags far behind other genetic disorders like sickle cell disease, leaving most Ghanaians woefully uninformed about a condition that affects over a tenth of the population.
Awareness, knowledge
Lack of awareness and knowledge on the preventive practices have resulted in preventable hemolytic crises, hospitalization and death whilst awareness and trigger avoidance are essential to surviving G6PD Deficiency.
Without routine diagnosis and awareness campaigns, families remain uninformed until preventable hemolytic crises occur.
Strengthening provider education and health communication, integrating genetic disease education into school curricula, and addressing sociocultural barriers are essential steps which will complement current approaches in G6PD Deficiency awareness creation.
For the thousands of Ghanaians living with undiagnosed G6PD deficiency, the parents and caretakers who may one day face a preventable hemolytic crisis, this knowledge gap is not merely academic. It is a matter of life and death.
Check your status, get educated on G6PD Deficiency today.
The ti me for a national response is now.
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology student,
University of Health and Allied Science, Ho.
