<i>Integrated thalassaemia treatment centre is to set up in the city</i>
Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation and Bangladesh Society of Hematology has jointly organised a seminar entitled "The role of iron chelation in Thalassaemia: Present and future prospects" at BIRDEM auditorium recently. Eminent specialist physicians of the country discussed about the importance of iron chelation in the treatment of thalassaemia.
Chairman of the Hematology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and President of Bangladesh Society of Hematology Professor Dr Jalilur Rahman was present as the chief guest while President of Paediatric Society of Bangladesh Professor Dr M A Mannan and Secretary General of Bangladesh Society of Hematology Professor Dr M A Khan were present as Special Guests in the seminar.
Thalassaemia is a genetic disease of blood which patients inherit from their parents. They need blood transfusion of 1-2 bag blood in every 2-4 weeks. Iron gets deposited in the body of the patients as a consequence of regular blood transfusion. Patients start suffering from different diseases like heart failure, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, retarded growth and so on due to the toxic effects of deposited iron.
Assistant Professor of Hematology Department of BSMMU and Scientific Secretary of Bangladesh Society of Hematology Dr Amin Lutful Kabir presented the keynote paper in the seminar. He said, "Patients should take iron chelating agents like Desferol or Kelfer to survive with thalassaemia. Desferol should be taken 5-6 days a week. It is taken by a subcutaneous small and portable pump. Besides, patients should take drug like Kelfer three times a day. Patients must be monitored closely to observe any side effect of these drugs."
Dr Abdur Rahim, Secretary General of Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation informed the seminar that many patients can not avail the iron chelating agents due to the scarcity of the drugs in the market and lack of proper guidelines. As a result of continuous lobbying of the Foundation, recently Novartis Bangladesh has marketed Desferol in Bangladesh. Now patients get all sorts of iron chelating agents from the Foundation office and they are served with regular monitoring.
Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation opened to the elements about setting up an Integrated Thalassaemia Treatment Centre. Patients will get a comprehensive care with blood transfusion and iron chelation in this centre. The Foundation will collect blood for the patients so that patients and their guardians need not go through the hassle of blood collection. Moreover, they will be served with the laboratory services to be monitored. Initially 200 patients will be enrolled in this centre.
Drugs like Desferol and Kelfer are badly essential for the survival of thalassaemia patients. Chief Guest of the seminar Professor Dr Jalilur Rahman urged the government for tax exemption upon these drugs.
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