The World Thalassemia Day is being observed today across the world to raise awareness about the disease.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has urged the nation to work with firm resolve to eradicate Thalassemia form the country.
In his message on World Thalassemia Day, he said the children may inherit the disease from their affected parents. He also urged parents to conduct laboratory test of their children before marriage to avoid the disease.
Moreover, a rally to raise awareness about the Thalassemia was also held in Mirpur. Participants walked from district headquarters hospital to Mirpur University to mark the day.
Fatimid Foundation holds awareness walk
A walk was arranged by Fatimid Foundation Hyderabad in connection with the World Thalassemia Day being observed in the country like other parts of the world.
The trustees of Fatmid Foundation Dr Muhammad Farooq Memon, Maqbool Ahmed Memon, an eminent haematologist Dr Khalid Yousuf and Administrator Fatmid Foundation Dr Rab Nawaz Memon informed that Thalassemia test has been declared essential before marriage in other countries of the world like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate, Iran, Greece and Italy with a view to detect the genetic disruption in blood. It is precautionary act to avert prevalence of Thalassemia to future generation; they said and added that such attempt could be initiated in Pakistan by conducting Haemoglobin and Electrophoresis tests of the couples before marriages.
The clinical tests before marriages is the only solution of stopping the producing the Thalassemia patients, they said and added that this disease is unacceptable and painful not only for patients but also for their attendants because of major chunk of their lives in the hospital for blood transfusion.
Around 0.1 million children are the victims of Thalassemia major while the disease affecting 6,000 children every year in Pakistan because of no awareness and precautionary measures, they informed the participants of the walk in front of Hyderabad Press Club.
