Health experts have termed the Thalassaemia, the most common genetic disorder passed on to children, which could be controlled by creating awareness among the people. The Experts said thalassaemia is a silent killer of children and it spreads in the country for lack of awareness and said the increasing number of thalassaemia patients is a matter of concern although the disease is preventable.
They stressed the need for creation of proper awareness about its prevention is created at mass level so people can take early measures to prevent the disease, experts said, while addressing at a function, organised by Hamza Foundation at local hotel on Sunday. Keynote speakers include Medical Director Hamza Foundation, Dr Tariq Khan, Chairman Hamza Foundation, Ejaz Ali Khan, Pashto film actor Ajab Gul, and other heath experts.
The experts said Thalassaemia is a blood disorder which passed from parents to children through genes. Thalassaemia causes the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin than normal. Not only the number of red blood cells comes down but their longevity is also shortened.
Ejaz Khan while speaking on the occasion urged the provincial government to take practical steps for implementation of law regarding prevention of Thalassaemia in the province. He stated: "The implementation of Thalassaemia bill 2010, is far away to reality, which has been caused increasing number of the patients in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to survey, he said the around 8,000 to 12,000 new-born children were suffering from Thalassaemia across the country, which has become major inherited disease, particularly in KP. He informed his organisation has so far registered 883 Thalassaemia patients, which are providing free-medical care and other required facilities, at various centres in the province.
Ejaz Khan said owing to unborn of red cell or RBCS in body of infant, was major caused of the disease among the new-born child, which generally transmitted from their parents. He said the Thalassaemia patients require blood transfusion after every 15 to 20 days, to survive their life. He stated the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is only permanent treatment of the Thalassaemia infected infants, which is more costly as approximately Rs 0.2million, would require for the operation.
The foundation, he said had so far conducted CVS thalassaemia test of more than 133 mothers during pregnancy in the last year, through which prevented around 36 new-born children from infecting of Thalassaemia major. He said thalassaemia major is severe form of disease.