BADIN, May 13: Speakers at a seminar on “Awareness and Preventive Measures about Thalassaemia” held here on Sunday called for making pre-marital thalassaemia screening mandatory for couples.

The seminar was organised by the Thalassaemia Care Citizens Community Board to mark the World Thalassaemia Day. It was attended by thalassaemia patients, parents and common people. Brig Syed Kausar Hussain Shah presided.

The speakers said that thalassaemia was a blood disorder and a common inherited disease with no cure, except bone marrow transplantation — a costly procedure entailing certain risks.

Most of the patients of the genetic disorder have to endure blood transfusion for life. However, they said it could be controlled through prenatal diagnoses.

Dr. Tahir Shamsi said that a fatwa (decree) had also been issued by religious scholars who maintained that ending foetus within 120 days of its conception was not against religious injunctions.

He said that women with three months’ pregnancy should be brought at thalassaemia centre for tests.

Dr Saqib Ansari called for a massive campaign for the prevention of thalassaemia as it was a prerequisite.

He observed that there were 25 per cent chances of having ‘thalassaemia major’ in every pregnancy in case two thalassaemia carriers got married. Earlier, the secretary of the centre Dr M Haroon Memon, said that at least 350 families were infected with thalassaemia disease in the district. He said, more than 270 patients were admitted to the centre and the army cantonment was providing one time meal to patients and their parents free of cost.

He appreciated the role of Hussaini Blood Bank, Karachi, NRSP and others for providing blood to patients of thalassaemia.

The president of the centre, Dr. Mohammad Hussain, expressed gratitude to the doctors who came all the way from Karachi despite deteriorated law and order situation there.