LAHORE, April 28: Acting president Muhammadmian Soomro assured his full support for bringing legislation to make it compulsory for both male and female to get themselves tested for thalassemia before marriage to check this incurable disease.

This he said while speaking at the concluding session of the two-day 4th National Thalassemia Conference and Workshops held under the auspices of Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan (TFP) at Fatima Jinnah Medical College here on Saturday.

TFP president Lt-Gen Moeenuddin Haider (retired), secretary-general Dr Yasmin Rashid, Fatima Jinnah Medical College principal Dr Rehana Azeem, representatives of the federation from all over the country, thalassemia patients and their parents were also present.

The acting president also made some recommendations, including exemption of medicines for the ailment from taxes and provision of infusion pumps for the thalassemia patients registered with the federation.

Earlier in his welcome address, the TFP president highlighted the efforts being made by the federation in fight against thalassemia.

He said with the formation of federation, comprising 36 associations, efforts for creating awareness about the disease and provision of treatment facilities had got impetus, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the TFP secretary-general said that thalassemia was incurable ailment and many countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, had made thalassemia test compulsory both for male and female for marriage.

She said that it was a hereditary disease and in case both father and mother were thalassaemics, their children were at greater risk of being infected with it.

Muhammadmian Soomro also gave away medals to thalassemia patients for showing courage in fight against the disease.—APP