A very high prevalence of Thalassemia is reported by the Sindhi newspapers and television channels in Sindh province. Indeed, six percent of the population is thalassemia carriers and each year 700 new babies are born with thalassemia. Pity that hospitals have neither specialist doctors nor proper blood banks nor offer any consultancy.
However, much needs to be done to make people aware and curb its spread to future generations in the province. We need to create awareness about thalassemia so that it can be detected at prenatal stage. Genetic counselling is also very important as a family’s medical history plays an important role.
Detection camps may be held in different educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, so that students may be tested for thalassemia. This will also create greater awareness about the blood disorder among the younger generation.
The humanity saving organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, USAID, Save the Children, Children First, etc are appealed to come to the rescue of thalassemia carries in Sindh, especially the children in Larkano, Qambar/ Shahdad Kot, Shikarpur and Jacobabad.
