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The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has suggested that the IEC material on prevention and control of Thalassaemia can be done at the central level and be distributed through motivators who can be trained. Speaking at the inaugural of the 3rd International Conference on Thalassaemia here today, the Minister said that there is a fallacy that blood donation results in weakness which needs to be removed from the minds of the general public. He said, there is a need to increase voluntary blood donation as compared to replacement donations as existing at present. It is in this area that strong IEC component is required.
It may be recalled that Thalassaemia is a life-threatening, hereditary blood disorder that is highly prevalent in India. If not treated, children born with Thalassaemia usually die between the age of one and eight years. Thalassaemia causes the bone marrow to become overactive; it cannot produce normal red blood ceils, the bones grow out of shape and become weak. The poor quality blood is unable to carry sufficient oxygen for the body’s needs; the heart and other organs become overworked and in time fail due to lack of oxygen.
Patients suffering from Thalassaemia require periodic blood transfusion for their survival and adequate growth. There are highly prone to develop transfusion related infections like HIV, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C. Hence, it is recommended that these children receive safe blood transfusion. The Government of India through NACO and the Red Cross organizes for blood transfusion supplies. The Government also encourages and supports pre-natal foetal checkups of mothers with potential for developing thalassaemia since even if one parent is a carrier, children have a 50% chance of being carrier themselves.
The 3rd International Conference on Thalassaemia is being held in New Delhi for the first time. There are delegates from India, Taiwan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Maldives and a large delegation from Pakistan participating in the Conference which is being supported by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
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