Nigerian artist Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, has opened up on is ongoing battle with sickle cell.
The 38-year-old, in a recent interview, revealed that he still battles with crisis from the condition. He disclosed that he has been receiving medication to manage the condition since he was 5-years-old.
“I still have crises. My vision is to make more noise about it because a lot of people don’t know about it, and the important organisations are not making so much moves regarding it. Where sickle cell is more popular or where people know it most is my country Nigeria. And it happens when an SS matches an SS. And that’s why knowing your genotype is very important because the point is you should not bring many more kids that have sickle cell,” he explained.
Adekunle also opened up on his experience living with Sickle Cell. He spoke about the constant pains during a crisis and the cost of managing such a condition.
“The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home. My mum put me on her back and we walked miles to the hospital. I don’t remember how old I was, maybe like 5 or 7. That was when the doctor told me about it, and they told me that I will be taking folic acid and B complex for the rest of my life. And that’s my life for a very long time even till now. I still have crises once in a while but not as bad as I had it when I was a child. You know maybe because I have found a way to take care of myself more properly. And I’m grateful to God for the resources to be able to do that,” he added.
