Treatment of thalassemia Punjab to set up centre of excellence

Advisor on Health Kh Salman Rafique has said a centre of excellence will be set up for treatment, diagnosis and eradication of thalassemia in the province, for which, technical assistance of experts of International Thalassemia Federation will be sought.
He said a think tank comprising experts will be soon set up for providing facilities to the people suffering from thalassemia and taking steps for controlling of this disease so that a future strategy could be evolved.
He said this while addressing a seminar on the topic of thalassemia prevention at Fatima Jinnah Medical University, here on Monday. Vice Chancellor FJMU Professor Sardar Farukh Imam, Special Secretary Health Gulzar Hussain, Medical Advisor International Thalassemia Federation Dr Michael Angastiniotis and Stave Melides, Chairperson Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan Yasmin Rashid, Project Director Punjab Thalassemia Prevention Programme Professor Shabnam, Member P&D Dr Shabana, Professor Nisar, Director PIBT Dr Zafar Iqbal and other experts besides Yasin Khan of Sundas Foundation, children suffering from thalassemia and parents attended the seminar.
Kh Salman Rafique said medical experts, government, all segments of the society, NGOs and media have to make co-ordinated efforts from one platform for eradicating thalassemia disease.
He said regional blood centers are being set up for ensuring safe blood transfusion to thalassemia children and other patients in the province. He said RBCs will soon start working at Multan and Bahawalpur whereas RBCs will be established at all divisions including Faisalabad. He said legislation is being made for empowering Punjab Blood Regulatory Authority for monitoring of blood banks. Earlier, Professor Yasmin Rashid gave a briefing about the efforts being made from the platform of Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan for the children suffering from thalassemia and controlling this disease. She also submitted proposals for treatment and rehabilitation of people affected due to thalassemia and controlling this disease effectively.