KARACHI, Aug 15: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) administrator has said that the number of children suffering from thalassaemia has crossed the 150,000 figure while the number of blood disease cases is increasing at an alarming rate.

Mohammad Hussain Syed expressed these views while speaking at a gift distribution ceremony held at the Al-Mustafa Medical Centre for children suffering from thalassaemia.

Al-Mustafa Welfare Society patron-in-chief Haji Hanif Tayyab, Haji Hanif Jano, general secretary Haji Abdul Ghani Salman and other office bearers of the society and members were also present on the occasion.

The KMC administrator said that about seven per cent people in Pakistan had so far been reported to have thalassaemia or haemophilia.

He said that the people could also have normal lives and live up to over 60 years if provided with timely and proper treatment of these diseases.

He praised the role of non-governmental organisations in providing free-of-cost blood to the needy.

The administrator said that cousin marriages were considered to be main cause of such diseases.

He said that to save the next generation from these diseases it was necessary that the ‘Haemoglobin electrophoresis’ test was carried out before marriage. “The KMC will soon begin this test in its hospitals whereas measures are being taken to ensure provision of blood to KMC-run hospitals.”

He further said that the KMC was spending millions of rupees each month on healthcare facilities for citizens.

Former federal minister and patron in chief of the Al-Mustafa Welfare Society Haji Hanif Tayyab said that the medical centre was providing treatment to children suffering from thalassaemia.—PPI