PESHAWAR, May 7: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar has stressed the need for taking concrete and effective measures to protect the future generations from fatal blood diseases like thalassaemia.

“Indeed care is the best way to avoid difficulties of treatment and there can never be second opinion about importance of promoting awareness in this respect,” he told a ceremony at Governor House here on Saturday.

The ceremony was arranged jointly by two volunteer organisations, Frontier Foundation Welfare Trust Hospital Services and Hamza Foundation Welfare Hospital and Blood Services, in connection with the World Thalassaemia Day being observed on May 8.

The ceremony was attended by sponsors, office-bearers and workers of both the organisations besides the suffering children and their parents. On the occasion, health experts highlighted importance of services of philanthropists in minimising the miseries of people suffering from blood diseases. Film star Ajab Gul also addressed the ceremony.

The governor said that developed nations succeeded because they focused on population welfare, healthcare and education. “Islam is the best source of inspiration and guidance in this respect as it offers opportunities for research and advocacy,” he added.

He said that a special session with the children suffering from blood diseases would be arranged at Governor's House soon. He said that he was quite conscious about the fatal consequences of blood diseases and would spare no efforts in extending due patronage in this respect.

Earlier, Sahibzada Mohammad Haleem said that presently almost 2,500 children, including 550 from tribal areas, are registered as regular patients with their organisation. “Since establishment of Frontier Foundation in 2002, it has provided 116,000 blood bags to respective patients,” he added. He said that 81 per cent of patients were suffering from blood diseases because of cousin marriages.

Ejaz Ali Khan in his welcome address said that 759 children were registered as regular patients with them and almost 10 to 11 were added on monthly basis.

“During the current year, almost 22,280 blood bags were provided to the patients while almost 700 blood bags were supplied to various major hospitals on their demand in wake of emergencies from time to time,” he added.