Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker of the National Assembly, has said that million of children across the world are suffering from Thalassemia, which need immediate attention of the nations individually and collectively. She expressed these views in her message on the Thalassemia Day being observed on Sunday (today).
The Speaker said that lack of awareness among the masses was the main cause behind the increase in Thalassemia disorder in Pakistan. She stressed for raising public awareness for the prevention of the dreadful blood disorder. Fehmida Mirza said that Thalassemia was a genetically transmitted blood disorder, which had affected millions of people around the world and its further proliferation could only be slashed down by avoiding intra-family marriages.
Dr Fehmida Mirza called upon the provincial governments to allocate necessary funds for establishment of Thalassemia centres to ensure health coverage and blood transfusion services to the deserving patients in both the rural and urban areas of the country.
She also appealed to the non-governmental organisations and philanthropist community to generously donate for establishment of such centers where deserving Thalassemia patients could undergo clinical care besides having free blood transfusion services. Fehmida Mirza also called upon the media to create awareness among the masses to stop further proliferation of the blood disorder. The Speaker eulogised the services of the volunteers and philanthropists working for the well-being of Thalassemia patients.