Jamshedpur : Anurag Foundation, Jamshedpur, a city based NGO working for the betterment of Thalassemia patients observed World Thalassemia Day at the Ardeshir Dalal Memorial Hospital. The function was aimed to draw awareness towards the need to prevent the continued spread of this genetic disorder. hildren witnessed a magic show and received gifts.
As part of the observance, an entertainment programme was organised by the ladies of Kalyani Welfare Association. Over 100 people were part of the observance.
�The activity was a part of the Anurag Foundation’s overall effort to generate awareness on Thalassemia. We hope this awareness will encourage people to undergo the blood test necessary to detect Thalassemia and prevent marriage between two carriers. Today we conducted a free serum ferritin level blood test camp (to check iron level as blood transfusions increase it and can have major side effects) for 75 thalassemic children,� said Vijay Singh, secretary, Anurag Foundation.
He said that Thalassemia is a severe type of anemia which cannot be controlled by nay medication. Bone marrow transplantation is the only cure for Thalassemia, which is a difficult task.
�Major patients receive frequent blood transfusions that lead to iron overload. Iron chelation treatment is necessary to prevent iron overload damage to the internal organs in patients,� noted the
president.
It may be mentioned that Thalassemia is a group of inherited or genetic diseases that affect the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, usually resulting in anemia. Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, is necessary for carrying oxygen throughout the body.
Thalassemia is passed to children by parents who carry the gene for the disease that the State government should take steps to make the test mandatory. Prevention of this genetic disorder is possible by testing of blood before marriage to know the carrier-status of a person and avoid marriage between two carriers.