6000 born with Thalassemia Major every year

RAWALPINDI: The weeklong activities to create awareness among masses for prevention and treatment of Thalassaemia disease started on Wednesday in twin cities, Rawalpindi and Islamabad as each year more than 6000 children are born with severe form of the disease (Thalassemia Major).

Principal Riphah International University, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Masood Anwar addressing a press conference held here at the University Campus said that the Thalassemia is a genetic blood disease and amongst the most common inherited single gene disorder in the world.

Scientists and public health officials predict that Thalassemia will become a worldwide issue in the next decades, he added.

On this occasion, President Thalassaemia Welfare Society, Gen (Retd) Faheem Ahmed Khan and Prof. Dr. Tahir were also present.

Maj. Gen. (Retd) Masood Anwar said that this genetic blood disease is characterized by absent or decreased production of normal hemoglobin,resulting in anemia of varying degree.

Thalassemias have a distribution concomitant with areas were malaria was common. (APP)