DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 4 -- FOR many young people, starting a family is a major life decision. Yet before marriage or parenthood, one simple piece of information can help couples understand an important genetic risk: Whether they carry the sickle cell gene.

Knowing their status does not determine what couples should do. Instead, testing and appropriate genetic counselling provide information that can help them understand how sickle cell disease is inherited and make informed reproductive decisions.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines sickle cell disease as a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the HBB gene, which affects the production of haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout t...