ID :
181243
Tue, 05/10/2011 - 15:03
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/181243
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Pakistan Government urged to introduce laws to prevent Thalassaemia
Nasir Mahmood
Karachi, May 10, 2011 (Pakistan Observer): Government must take strict measures to implement the law that could make it mandatory for the marrying couples to undergo Thalassaemia, Hepatitis C and other blood tests before marriage in order to prevent Thalassaemia and other deadly diseases among their children. This menace can only be controlled through prevention as its remedy is a life-long pain for child as well as for the parents.
‘ These views were expressed by speakers while addressing the Seminar organized by Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia center to commemorate the World Thalassaemia Day 2011 at federation house. There are currently over 1 lakh Thalassaemia Major Patients in Pakistan as compared to mere 1000 patients in UK and approximately 10% of Pakistan’s population is estimated to have Thalassaemia traits (Thalassaemia Minor) thus over 1.5 crore carriers in Pakistan.
Speakers said that the presence of over 1 lakh Thalassaemia Major Patients and yearly increase of 6-7 thousands Thalassaemia babies, demands prevention measures to eradicate Thalassaemia from Pakistan. With this syndrome the afflicted families not only suffers with the lifelong financial burden but it also lays an immense negative impact upon socio-economic and health sector of the nation.
Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health Govt. of Sindh said that having realized the rapid increase of Thalassaemia afflicted patients, the Government of Sindh, passed a resolution in Sindh Provincial Assembly in its session of 16th October 2009 for making it mandatory for youths through legislation to have their blood screened before marriage to investigate the gene of Thalassaemia.
He said that government and social sector require launching an awareness-raising campaign and for this welfare institutions like Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Center Trust (KITCC) Karachi can play vital role. He appreciated KITCC’s role for creating much needed awareness about the prevention of Thalassaemia.
Minister said the establishment of Blood Bank and Laboratory at KITCC, where iron-chelating therapy and other essential treatment to Thalassaemics are being provided free of charge is a dire need for the society and more and more philanthropic organizations should come up to share their responsibilities.
Patron-in-Chief of Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Centre (KITCC), S. M. Muneer, urged the members of parliament to pass the bill making the blood tests compulsory before marriage to prevent Thalassaemia and other deadly diseases. He appreciated the members of Sindh and NWFP assemblies for taking the lead and passing similar bills making Thalassaemia, Hepatitis C and other blood tests mandatory before marriage.
Muneer said that both Assemblies have done a great work for noble cause. This, he added, was a long-awaited bill and he urged National Assembly, Senate of Pakistan, Punjab Assembly and Baluchistan Assembly to table similar bills in the respective Assemblies and ensure the implementation of same in real terms and spirit.
Kashif Mulla, Joint Secretary of Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Centre (Trust) said that each year about 5,000 to 6,000 children are born with Thalassaemia Major in Pakistan and we need to prevent the birth of such children. This can happen if Thalassaemia Carriers are identified before their marriage.
Karachi, May 10, 2011 (Pakistan Observer): Government must take strict measures to implement the law that could make it mandatory for the marrying couples to undergo Thalassaemia, Hepatitis C and other blood tests before marriage in order to prevent Thalassaemia and other deadly diseases among their children. This menace can only be controlled through prevention as its remedy is a life-long pain for child as well as for the parents.
‘ These views were expressed by speakers while addressing the Seminar organized by Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia center to commemorate the World Thalassaemia Day 2011 at federation house. There are currently over 1 lakh Thalassaemia Major Patients in Pakistan as compared to mere 1000 patients in UK and approximately 10% of Pakistan’s population is estimated to have Thalassaemia traits (Thalassaemia Minor) thus over 1.5 crore carriers in Pakistan.
Speakers said that the presence of over 1 lakh Thalassaemia Major Patients and yearly increase of 6-7 thousands Thalassaemia babies, demands prevention measures to eradicate Thalassaemia from Pakistan. With this syndrome the afflicted families not only suffers with the lifelong financial burden but it also lays an immense negative impact upon socio-economic and health sector of the nation.
Dr. Sagheer Ahmed, Minister for Health Govt. of Sindh said that having realized the rapid increase of Thalassaemia afflicted patients, the Government of Sindh, passed a resolution in Sindh Provincial Assembly in its session of 16th October 2009 for making it mandatory for youths through legislation to have their blood screened before marriage to investigate the gene of Thalassaemia.
He said that government and social sector require launching an awareness-raising campaign and for this welfare institutions like Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Center Trust (KITCC) Karachi can play vital role. He appreciated KITCC’s role for creating much needed awareness about the prevention of Thalassaemia.
Minister said the establishment of Blood Bank and Laboratory at KITCC, where iron-chelating therapy and other essential treatment to Thalassaemics are being provided free of charge is a dire need for the society and more and more philanthropic organizations should come up to share their responsibilities.
Patron-in-Chief of Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Centre (KITCC), S. M. Muneer, urged the members of parliament to pass the bill making the blood tests compulsory before marriage to prevent Thalassaemia and other deadly diseases. He appreciated the members of Sindh and NWFP assemblies for taking the lead and passing similar bills making Thalassaemia, Hepatitis C and other blood tests mandatory before marriage.
Muneer said that both Assemblies have done a great work for noble cause. This, he added, was a long-awaited bill and he urged National Assembly, Senate of Pakistan, Punjab Assembly and Baluchistan Assembly to table similar bills in the respective Assemblies and ensure the implementation of same in real terms and spirit.
Kashif Mulla, Joint Secretary of Kashif Iqbal Thalassaemia Care Centre (Trust) said that each year about 5,000 to 6,000 children are born with Thalassaemia Major in Pakistan and we need to prevent the birth of such children. This can happen if Thalassaemia Carriers are identified before their marriage.
