SWAT/LAKKI MARWAT: Speakers at a ceremony here on Monday urged youth and students to play their role in eliminating thalassaemia from the country by donating blood voluntarily.

The ceremony was organised by Al-Fajar Foundation and Luqman International Hospital to mark World Blood Donor Day. Blood donors, doctors, students and thalassaemia patients participated in the event.

The speakers said that healthy people must come forward to donate their blood to save and serve humanity.

“I appeal to young healthy people to come forward and donate their blood to keep the thalassaemia patients alive as blood is their lifeline,” said Asma Naz, a 17-year-old patient. She also urged people to get their blood test before getting married.

Speakers said that the ratio of thalassaemia was higher in the seven districts of Malakand division than other parts of the country. They said proper and regular programmes should be launched to control the blood disease.

The organisers of the event said that blood donation was the only way to save the lives of thalassaemia patients. They said that about 370 patients of thalassaemia were registered with them and many young people donated blood to keep them alive.

On the occasion, civil society members and youth donated their blood voluntarily to the thalassaemia patients.

In Lakki Marwat, a function was arranged by Awam Dost Blood Donor Society to mark the day.

The participants of the event asked the government to set up blood banks in the hospitals in the district.

Besides local elders and members of civil society, children suffering from thalassaemia and their parents attended the function.

Shields and certificates were given away to social activists on the occasion in recognition of their services to raise awareness among people about blood donation.

The participants of event said that the district lacked blood banks and local people had no option but to make announcements through mosques to seek blood for their patients.

They said that patients died in hospitals or they were referred to big cities for want of blood. “The government should take the issue seriously,” they added.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2021