Trending 
Popular Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has opened up about his ongoing battle with sickle cell disease.
In a recent interview shared on social media, the 38-year-old artist spoke candidly about his health challenges, revealing that his struggle with the condition is far from over.
“I still have crises,” he admitted, reflecting on the recurring pain that comes with the illness.
Adekunle Gold went on to share that he has been on constant medication since childhood. “I’ve been on lifelong medication since I was five years old,” he said.
Advising the public on the need of genotype testing, he noted: “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.
“Unfortunately for me, my parents are sickle cell and they brought me to the world. The first time I ever heard of sickle cell was I would fall sick every time with my joints paining me. So when we talk about crisis, it is pains on your joints, my legs and sometimes stomach. It’s really crazy.
“The first time I noticed that I had it was the night I fell sick and my dad wasn’t home and 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.”
