10m Thalassaemia carriers in country
Monday, 10 May 2010
FE Report
There are 10 million Thalassaemia carriers, 0.35 million are known patients and hundreds of new Thalassaemia babies are born everyday, this was disclosed at a seminar in the city Sunday.
Dhaka Shishu Hospital Thalassaemia Centre, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation and Medicine Club jointly organised the seminar at the National Museum auditorium on the occasion of the International Thalassaemia Day.
National Professor Dr MR Khan presided over the function, while Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad MP was chief guest.
In his welcome speech Dr Md Selimuzzaman, Associ-ate Professor of Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Chairperson of International Thalassaemia Day 2010 organising committee, said, "Our aim is to create awareness about Thalassaemia among the general population and to find out ways to prevent the birth of Thalassaemia babies."
He revealed that the blood-related disease Thalassaemia is a genetic disorder of haemoglobin, which is not curable but can be protected and the only protection is to stop marriage between two Thalassaemia carriers.
"It is an alarming information that this disease is incurable, we must speak it out" said the minister in his speech. He emphasised the role of electronic and print media in raising public consciousness in this regard.
"A countrywide awareness is necessary for this purpose," said Dr Khan. I hope that through the observance of the day both curative and preventive initiatives for the disease will be spotlighted by experts."
Kamrun Nahar Mukul, a patient and an ex-student of Zoology Department of Dhaka University, urged the government to open Thalassaemia medical centers in every district and bring the prices of drugs and medical equipment within the reach of the poor Thalassaemia patients.
Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Prof MS Akbor MP attended the seminar as special guest.
There are 10 million Thalassaemia carriers, 0.35 million are known patients and hundreds of new Thalassaemia babies are born everyday, this was disclosed at a seminar in the city Sunday.
Dhaka Shishu Hospital Thalassaemia Centre, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Samity, Bangladesh Thalassaemia Foundation and Medicine Club jointly organised the seminar at the National Museum auditorium on the occasion of the International Thalassaemia Day.
National Professor Dr MR Khan presided over the function, while Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad MP was chief guest.
In his welcome speech Dr Md Selimuzzaman, Associ-ate Professor of Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Chairperson of International Thalassaemia Day 2010 organising committee, said, "Our aim is to create awareness about Thalassaemia among the general population and to find out ways to prevent the birth of Thalassaemia babies."
He revealed that the blood-related disease Thalassaemia is a genetic disorder of haemoglobin, which is not curable but can be protected and the only protection is to stop marriage between two Thalassaemia carriers.
"It is an alarming information that this disease is incurable, we must speak it out" said the minister in his speech. He emphasised the role of electronic and print media in raising public consciousness in this regard.
"A countrywide awareness is necessary for this purpose," said Dr Khan. I hope that through the observance of the day both curative and preventive initiatives for the disease will be spotlighted by experts."
Kamrun Nahar Mukul, a patient and an ex-student of Zoology Department of Dhaka University, urged the government to open Thalassaemia medical centers in every district and bring the prices of drugs and medical equipment within the reach of the poor Thalassaemia patients.
Chairman of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Prof MS Akbor MP attended the seminar as special guest.