Thalassaemia gene carried by 5% Pakistanis, genetic testing urged before marriages

[Naveed Yaseen]

Five per cent of the 160 million population of Pakistan has thalassaemia, but most of these patients have no idea about the disease due to lack of awareness.

This was disclosed by speakers at a seminar on ‘Prevention of thalassaemia and promotion of blood donation in Pakistan’, here at Mohammadi Hall of Rawalpindi’s Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat.

The seminar was organised by Burhani Blood Donors and Welfare Association Rawalpindi in collaboration with Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat’s Anjuman-e-Burhani.

Major-General Dr Suhaib Ahmed in his impressive multi-media presentation said, “If 800,000 people of our country have this disease it means it’s a serious issue which is going unnoticed.”

The audience included members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Rawalpindi while a good number of children suffering from thalassaemia and their parents were also present on the occasion.

Dr Suhaib said that thalassaemia test of both bride and groom before marriage could help in taking preventive measures against the disease.

Brigadier Mohammad Ayub, Commandant Armed Forces Institute of Transfusion, said that media should come forward in spreading the awareness about thalassaemia.

“It could help in bringing more and more donors forward like Burhani Blood Donors,” Brig. Ayub said.

He said that normal human being should give blood after every five to six months and it could help in saving the lives of thalassaemia patients.

The Burhani Blood Donors and Welfare Association has around 80 regular blood donors and has been working since 1992.

A unit of a positive blood normally costs in between Rs1,500-Rs2,000 while a negative unit of blood is priced at Rs2,000-Rs3,000. However, the association donates most of the units to thalassaemia patients free of cost every year.

“Associations like Burhani Donors should be made throughout the country so that we could fight against this disease,” he said.

Chief guest State Minister for Health Chaudhry Mohammad Afzal Sindhu in his address

said that the government is committed to fight against thalassaemia.

“We know that a large number of people suffer from thalassaemia and would try our best to spread the awareness in even remote areas,” the state minister said.

The minister distributed shields among the members of Burhani Blood Donors and Welfare Association.

The speakers and chief guest were also awarded shields by Sheikh Hussain Zoeb Bhai, head of the Rawalpindi Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=169807