Awareness stressed for thalassemia prevention
Speakers at a press conference yesterday underscored the need for awareness measures to prevent hereditary form of anemia-thalassemia, a blood disorder, in the country.
It is 25 percent likely that a thalassemia baby will be born if both the parents are carrier of thalassemia, said Dr Manjur Morshed, a professor of haematology.
"We can prevent its spread by stopping marriage between the carriers," he said and suggested everyone, before getting married, to test if he or she carries thalassemia.
Dr Manjur also advised not to confuse a thalassemia patient with a thalassemia carrier who can lead a normal life without any complications unlike a patient.
A patient needs bone marrow transplantation, the only way and too expensive treatment, to cure thalassemia, he said.
So it is better to take initiatives to prevent its spread through awareness programme, the haematologist told the conference at the Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday.
Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) organised it to reveal its activities on the eve of World Thalassemia Day tomorrow with the slogan, "Equal Chance to Life."
BTF Secretary General Dr Abdur Rahim, in a reply, said a thalassemia patient can survive through regular blood transfusion.
He urged the government to formulate policy to ensure blood availability for the patients as well as creating awareness. among the people.
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