May 8 is World Thalassemia Day. This day is celebrated every year to raise awareness among the people about the prevention of thalassemia. Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation, Sandhani, Medicine Club and Platform have observed the day like every year. This year’s theme is “Addressing Health Inequality in Thalassemia Patients Worldwide.”
Professor Dr. Manjur Morshed, Hematology consultant , Asgar Ali Hospital, presented the keynote address at an online seminar organized by the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation to mark World Thalassemia Day. He said Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disease. Patients with thalassemia do not make enough iron in their blood. As a result, they have severe anemia. Thalassemia patients survive by receiving 1-2 bags of blood per month. If left untreated, the patient dies of anemia. Human cells have two genes for making blood. A person with a defect in one of the genes that make blood is called a thalassemia carrier, and a person with a defect in both genes is called a thalassemia patient.
Thalassemia is diagnosed within 1-2 years of birth. The symptoms of this disease are – paleness, weakness, frequent infections, not gaining weight in the baby, jaundice, irritable mood, etc. There is no readily available permanent treatment or vaccine for Thalassemia. The only way to get rid of this disease is prevention. Only if both husband and wife are carriers of Thalassemia can children get the disease. But if between husband and wife, one is a carrier and the other is healthy, then the disease will never happen. So, everyone needs to know if they are a carrier of Thalassemia before marriage. A blood test called hemoglobin electrophoresis can determine if a person is a carrier of Thalassemia.
“We hope that all Thalassemia patients will be able to prevent this disease and that the world will be free of Thalassemia,” said Aktari Mumtaz, the foundation’s Patron and former government secretary. In her speech, she highlighted the achievements of Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation and called for doing what can be done to prevent the disease.
Honorable Minister for Social Welfare, Nuruzzaman MP said in a message that the Bangladesh government is committed to controlling Thalassemia, and providing comprehensive financial assistance to help Thalassemia patients.
Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Sultana Saida said, “Thalassemia is included in the government’s policy through the activities of the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation. As a result, we help registered patients with a lump sum of Rs 50,000 every year”. She also emphasizes the importance of promoting the prevention of Thalassemia and thinks that it is possible to deal with it through counseling. She requested Thalassemia patients to register through the website of Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation.
Dr. Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, President of Bangladesh Medical Association said, “Bangladesh Medical Association will extend its hand of cooperation in every work of Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation. We can prevent Thalassemia by working shoulder to shoulder”. He emphasized the importance of preventing the disease through blood tests to diagnose Thalassemia carriers before marriage and called for greater public awareness and participation in the younger generation.
Special guest on the occasion, Vice President of Thalassemia International Federation – Shobha Tuli said that thalassemia patients and their families are victims of social discrimination due to economic inequality. They need to eliminate economic inequality for a better life and future.
Also speaking at the seminar were Dr. Lutfur Rahman Milon, President of Sandhani Foundation, Central AGS of Medical Club- Ankan and President of Platform- Dr. Faisal Bin Saleh. They highlighted the cooperation of Thalassemia patients from their respective organizations in the seminar.
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Honorable Prime Minister has given a message on the occasion of the day. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that there is no alternative to prevent Thalassemia. The disease can be easily prevented by blood tests to diagnose Thalassemia carriers before marriage. She emphasized on widespread public awareness and participation of the young generation in this regard.
The Prime Minister said this in a message issued on Friday (May 7) on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day. She said, she was happy to know that World Thalassemia Day was being celebrated like every year. According to Prime Minister, the theme of this year- “Addressing health disparities among Thalassemia patients worldwide” is appropriate.
Thalassemia is a blood disease. Infected children do not have enough red blood cells. As a result, they suffer from severe anemia. Patients with Thalassemia survive by receiving 1-2 bags of blood per month for life. Treatment of this disease is expensive.
1 in 14 people in Bangladesh is a carrier of Thalassemia. Carriers of Thalassemia are diagnosed by a blood test called hemoglobin electrophoresis. Thalassemia has nothing to do with blood group. Be aware of this and consult a doctor if necessary.
