The World Thalassemia Day is being observed in Pakistan by focusing on the theme of the Day “Beware, Share, Care and Strengthening Education to Bridge the Thalassemia Care Gap.’’ on Monday. International Thalassemia Day is dedicated to Thalassemia patients who are battling the disease and remembers those who passed away.

According to a report approximately 100,000 patients are suffering from Thalassemia in Pakistan and every year 5,000 babies are born with this deadly disease.World Thalassemia Day is a global healthcare event commemorated every year on May 8th to raise awareness about the condition among the local public and policymakers, apart from supporting and strengthening the morale of the victims who have battled for years with this fatal disease.

On this day, many local and international organisations, patient associations, public authorities, and healthcare professionals gather together to promote the importance of prenatal screening, counselling, prevention, management, or treatment of thalassemia in a patient-centred manner.

In connection to this day, Pakistan Thalassemia Welfare Society is organizing an event to mark the “World Thalassemia Day” in Rawalpindi. According to its handout, the Caretaker Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Punjab Dr Jamal Nasir are participating as special guests in the events.

The purpose of the event is to share the sufferings of the thalassemia victims and their families and pay tribute to their courage. “Thalassemia is a fatal and a genetic disease and the patient not only himself but his family members also pass through painful phases during this disease.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP