World Thalassaemia Day
Ensuring equal chance to life for thalassaemic
COURTESY: BTF
Thalassaemia is a blood disorder characterised by less haemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in the body. It is transmitted from parents to children. Since haemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen, the deficiency leads to anaemia, marked by growth retardation, fatigue, pale appearance, shortness of breath and weakness. Children with Thalassaemia often require frequent blood transfusions and lifelong medical treatment. The disease affects more than 7 percent of Bangladesh's population, which accounts for approximately 11.2 million. More than 7,000 children are born with Thalassaemia each year in Bangladesh. The definite treatment of Thalassaemia is Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) which is very costly and unaffordable for the poor. According to Health Bulletin 2009, Thalassaemia was the tenth most common disease among 5-14 yrs old patients of government medical college hospitals of Bangladesh. However, there are inadequate facilities available addressing the needs of Thalassaemia patients in the government health system. These inadequate treatment facilities have been multiplied by the lack of updated knowledge of the health service providers, poverty of the patients and lack of diagnostic facilities. The only way to combat this serious condition is prevention. Thalassaemia can easily be prevented by pre-marital/pre-conceptual or early pregnancy screening followed by marriage counselling and antenatal diagnosis. With a view to increasing awareness and discuss effective strategy to combat Thalassaemia, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation (BTF) and Sandhani, Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) unit has organised a seminar today at BIRDEM Hospital, Dhaka on the eve of World Thalassaemia Day on May 8. It is a matter of hope that the issues related to the disease have been included in the proposed Health Policy of Bangladesh. The patients are looking forward to get better opportunities following the implementation of the policy.
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