Thalassemia patients on the rise in Rangpur div

RANGPUR, Nov 19: The number of Thalassemia patients is increasing day by day in Rangpur division.
Thalassemia affected patients are found in many areas of Rangpur district. But the disease is most commonly seen in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts under the division.
Every year, around 500 to 700 patients are treated at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Though there is no official survey on this, a retired medical practitioner Professor MA Wahed has been studying for a long time. In his study, this terrible form of Thalassemia in Rangpur region has emerged. He presented the research paper in a doctors' conference held in India last year.
Professor MA Wahed, a former child neurology expert at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, is currently the chairman of a private mother and child hospital. He said Thalassemia is a hereditary disease. If the father or mother or both are the carriers of the Thalassemia gene, the child is more prone to this disease. Marriage between relatives of the Thalassemia gene increases the risk of getting affected by this disease, he added.
Professor Wahed said that most of the victims of Rangpur region are suffering from deadly e-beta Thalassemia. According to the type of disease Thalassemia is mainly divided into three categories - alpha, beta and minor. E-beta is a part of Beta Thalassemia.
Doctors said that the red blood cells of Thalassemia contains unusual hemoglobin gene. As a result, oxygen supply in the cell is interrupted. Consequently, anemia can occur.
It is learnt that two sons of a late journalist of Senpara area in Rangpur city have been suffering from Thalassemia for long. Five of the seven members of the family of one Abdur Rahman at Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur are affected by E-beta Thalassemia. They require eight to 10 bags of blood per month.
According to sources Thalassemia has been found in around 98 out of 1,000 children (1-15 years) under Rangpur district.
Doctors at the Rangpur Medical College Hospital said that the disease has become acute in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh of Rangpur Division. Besides, Thalassemia affected patients are on the rise in Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat district under the division.
They warned that if the awareness cannot be increased, it can lead to epidemic.
Deputy Director of Rangpur Health Department, Mozammel Haque said, especially children and women are getting more affected by this disease.
Admitting that there is no correct statistics in the health department, he said that awareness campaigns for the therapeutic activities of Thalassemia are being organised in different hospitals, community clinics and government service centres including meetings and seminars.
Experts say that since therapeutic healing is extremely complex and costly. Prevention can be the most effective way to get rid of the disease. Thalassemia is treated by replacing bone marrow. But it can be prevented in various ways.
Blood test is the best way to identify the disease carriers, experts added.

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