SWAT: Functions and awareness walks were held to mark the World Thalassaemia Day on Wednesday.

Speaking at a function organised in Rahimabad area of Swat to mark the World Thalassaemia Day, children with thalassaemia expressed gratitude for the new lease of life they received through the generosity of voluntary blood donors.

The SPS College management had invited thalassaemia children to mingle with students.

“The disease could be prevented if both partners undergo a simple thalassaemia test since it is inherited from both parents. We urge couples to prioritise this test before marriage,” said Waqar Ali, a thalassaemia fighter.

Another thalassemia patient, Aiman, said they were indebted to those who regularly donated blood to them. “Our heroes and role models extend beyond just blood donors to include those leading the Al-Fajar Foundation, which cares for the thalassaemia patients in Swat, and blood activists,” she said.

Functions, awareness walks mark World Thalassaemia Day

The thalassaemia children were greeted with gifts.

Wajahat Ali, a blood activist, said individuals with thalassaemia endured significant hardship, particularly when their blood levels dropped. “They experience severe discomfort as their blood depletes. When fresh blood is transfused, they encounter another challenge of iron clotting,” he explained. “Doctors administer medications to alleviate their pain and discomfort.”

Wajahat emphasised that a simple blood test could prevent its transmission if couples underwent the screening.

He urged students to familiarise themselves with the disease and to disseminate information among their friends and parents.

In Lower Dir, speakers at a function held on Wednesday urged people to donate blood and let the patients suffering from thalassaemia.

The Al-Khidmat Foundation organised the function and an awareness walk on the premises of the District Headquarters Hospital, Timergara, to mark the World Thalassaemia Day.

Doctors, paramedics, thalassaemia patients, relatives, social and political activists were in attendance.

The hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Ali Asghar, AKF district vice-president Haji Majidullah, its blood society in-charge Mohammad Zeb and others spoke at the function.

The speakers said thalassaemia was a genetic disorder causing decrease in haemoglobin production in the body.

They said thalassaemia was a fatal disease and awareness was needed to prevent it. They said there were 500 registered thalassaemia patients in Lower Dir. They said cousin marriages should be avoided.

The speakers said spouses should be tested for blood screening before entering into a marriage. They said bone marrow transplant was the only way to get rid of the disease.

Gifts were distributed among thalassaemia patients.

In Kohat, speakers at a function urged parents to carry out blood tests of their children before their marriages to save future generations from blood diseases.

An awareness walk was also held under the auspices of Frontier Blood Bank Foundation and a transfusion centre run by an individual, Ismail Khan.

The walk was led by MPA Shafiullah Jan. SP Umer Farooq, leaders of political parties and social organisations, SHO Junglekhel police station Riaz Hussain and SHO city Saifullah Khan Khattak also participated in the walk.

Speaking on the occasion, Ismail Khan said cancer patients, particularly children aged between 16 and 18 years required fresh blood transfusion weekly and sometimes twice a week depending on their condition. He appealed to people to donate blood generously.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2024