Thalassemia Awareness and Prevention in Pakistan (TAPP) on Thursday marked International Thalassemia Day in a ceremony held at Higher Education Commission (HEC) to promote awareness about this disease. The ceremony was arranged in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), CDA Directorate Health Services and Wajeeha Thalassemia Centre Swat.
TAPP President Ayesha Abid presented recommendations and requested HEC to formulate a policy ensuring compulsory blood screening including blood grouping and blood complete picture followed by test for Thalassemia, if required. Subsequently the students, who are Thalassemia carriers, may be counseled and advised family screening.
She also requested for undertaking research on Thalassemia at HEC recognised universities and a survey to update existing statistics of Thalassemia carriers in general population and as well as in index families.
Speaking on the occasion, HEC Executive Director Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed appreciated the efforts of the organisers for creating awareness on this important disease. He assured that HEC would take up these recommendations with the vice chancellors and university FM radio channels would be utilised to create awareness on Thalassemia among the students and community.
CDA Directorate of Health Services Director Dr Hasan Orooj extended all its support and commitment for Thalassemia. He added that the DHS was ready to support the awareness component through the DHS headquarters and its allied medical centers and he also declared Islamabad as Thalassemia friendly city.
