MANSEHRA: Cabinet secretary Ejaz Rahim has said that marriages within clans and families strong tribal bonds are mainly responsible for spread of thalassaemia among children as the disease is caused by genetic factors. He was speaking as chief guest at a function organised by the Kids Blood Diseases Organisation (KBDO) at the KBDO Hospital Complex and Thalassaemia Centre in connection with the World Thalassaemia Day here on Sunday.

Patron-in-chief of the KBDO and former chief justice of Pakistan Bashir Ahmad Jehangiri, PML’s local leader and social worker Sheraz Mahmood Quraishi, DCO Shakeel Qadir, professor Abdul Majid and Country Director of World Vision Sigurd Hanson also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier a walk led by Mr Hanson was organised by the KBDO for thalassaemia awareness. It started from Zaffar Park and ended at the KBDO Hospital Complex.

Ejaz Rahim said that thalassaemia is not an incurable disease; its patients can be treated through bone marrow transplant but it is too costly. He said treatment of one patient cost $100000 and in Pakistan the facility is available only in Karachi and a further places.

He said that 5000 children every year fall prey to this fatal disease in Pakistan and the same is the ratio of thalassaemia patient children in Greece and Cyprus because intra-clan marriages are common and tribal bonds are strong in these countries also.

He said that every minute one child dies in Pakistan due to EPI related diseases. HE said the government is spending more to improve this sector. On national level, he said, AIDS and Blood Purity Project (ABPP) has been launched that is aimed at providing financial and technical assistance and blood banks to the organisations working for elimination of blood related diseases.

He said role of the KBDO in blood transfusion of thalassaemia victims on voluntary basis in far flung areas like Mansehra is laudable. He said he would take up the case of the KBDO with the ABPP for financial and technical assistance. Ejaz Rahim himself donated a sum of Rs10000 to the KBDO.

Speaking on the occasion, Country Director of the World Vision Sigurd Hanson said he felt proud while walking side by side with thalassaemia victims, their parents and leaders of KBDO in the thalassaemia awareness walk and was inspired by voluntary zeal of the KBDO leaders. He said that the World Vision Korea had already extended Rs2.4 million financial assistance to the KBDO and would extend more in future.