ISLAMABAD: Experts during a symposium on Hereditary Blood Disorders on Tuesday emphasised molecular diagnosis, carrier screening and role of society for catering patients with blood-borne diseases. The symposium was organised in connection with World Haemophilia Day by the Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) and QAU Welfare Society with Fatimid Foundation, Peshawar. The main objective of the event was to enhance awareness about inherited blood disorders like haemophilia, thallasemia and leukaemia and to motivate students to donate blood to the suffering patients. There are more than 50,000 registered transfusion dependent thalassemic patients in Pakistan and approximately 5,000 babies are born every year with thalassemia in the country. The number of registered haemophilic patients in Pakistan is 20,000. Patients with blood-borne disorders are dependent on blood transfusion throughout their life, which not only adversely compromises their quality of life but also renders a great economic and psychological burden on the affected individuals and their families. Due to the complications arising from blood transfusion and disease management, the mortality of such patients is quite high. The average life expectancy for thalassemic children in Pakistan is only 15 years, compared to 60 years in developed countries. QAU Department of Animal Sciences Associate Professor Dr Sajid Malik welcomed the audience and the resource persons. He presented an overview of the current state of research on thalassemia and encouraged students to donate blood with great zeal and enthusiasm. During the seminar, Islamic International Medical College & Riffah Medication University Professor Dr Tahir Chaudhary shared his experience on the treatment and management of patients with haemophilia and thalassemia. Institute of Biomedial & Genetic Engineering (IBGE) Senior Scientific Officer Dr Rashda Abbasi presented an update on the diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia. Former district health officer Dr Attiqur Rahman shared his experience as a volunteer medical officer at Fatimid Foundation of catering thallasemic/haemophilic patients for the last 20 years. QAU School of Management Sciences student Mujtaba expressed his sufferings of being a thallasemic patient and dependency on blood transfusion from the last 23 years. In the end of the symposium, IBGE Senior Scientific Officer Dr Nafees Ahmad appreciated the role of Fatimid Foundation in providing free and safe blood to hundreds of patients with hereditary blood disorders annually. In the blood donation campaign, a large number of students along with faculty members donated blood. Published in Daily Times, April 25th 2018.