Daily Times

LAHORE: At least 60,000 patients are suffering from thalassemia major disease across the country, while the number is increasing by 7,000 every year, however 14 to 17 children on average are born with this severe disease.

Punjab Thalassaemia Prevention Programme Deputy Director Dr Hussain Jaffri informed this during a media briefing at Fatima Jinnah Medical University on Monday. Programme Coordinator Dr Yasmeen Ahsan was also present on the occasion. Jaffri said that the government allocated Rs 58 million in the current budget but the actual budget demand was around Rs 200 million for this programme.

He said that awareness campaigns regarding the disease are very important among the citizen and an awareness seminar would be held at Fatima Jinnah Medical University on May 9 in this regard.

He said approximately 1-1.2 million thalassemia careers are present in Pakistan, adding that marriage between both thalassemia careers give birth to a thalassemia child. “We are still facing 70 percent cousin marriages, which is the major reason behind spread of this disease,” he added. He said that after birth of a thalassemia child, around Rs 0.3 million was spent on his treatment and if the disease was not stopped, the burden of expenses increases with the passage of time.

According to the deputy director, thalassemia child needed huge amount of blood, which also causes several complicated problems. He said that in collaboration with Punjab government, four thalassemia prevention centres are currently operational, adding that these centres would be established in all 36 districts of Punjab by the end of this year. “We need around Rs 16 to 17 billion per annum for the treatment of children suffering from thalassemia,” he said, adding that proper awareness campaign could help in controlling this disease by 90 percent. As many as 75 percent children could suffer this disease until the age of 10, and if not cured on time, the patient could lose his/her life by the time he/she reaches the age of 20 to 25 years, he said.

The deputy director was of the view that there is dire need to start a prevention programme to eliminate of this disease. “Being a thalassemia career isn’t a disease, but marriage between two careers can lead to the birth of thalassemia child,” he added.