ZCZC
BSS-40
THALASSEMIA-DAY- COUNTRYWIDE
World Thalassemia Day observed
DHAKA, May 8, 2019 (BSS) – The World Thalassemia Day was observed today
across the country to raise awareness among the people about the disease.
This year’s theme of the day is “Make-sure electrophoresis test of blood
before marriage to protect the upcoming new born baby from thalassemia”.
World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 in order to raise the
public awareness about this disease, prevention measures and measures to
avoid its transmission among the common people throughout the world.
In Rangpur, health experts at a post rally discussion today stressed on
inspiring youths to conduct electrophoresis blood tests before getting
married to prevent the genetically inherited disease of Thalassemia to unborn
babies.
They made the observation at the discussion arranged by Rangpur Mother and
Children Hospital (RMCH) at its conference room here in observance of the
World Thalassemia Day-2019.
Earlier, the RMCH brought out a colourful rally, participated by
physicians, health officials and nurses of different government and private
sector hospitals from Town Hall premises on the city streets.
With Chairman of RMCH Professor Dr MA Wahed in the chair, Associate Prof of
Rangpur Prime Medical College and Hospital Dr Ferdous Rahman addressed the
discussion as the main resource person.
Dr Wahed said thalassemia is an autosomal recessive blood disorder which
gets inherited from parents to children through genes to cause destruction of
red blood cells affecting formation of hemoglobin in human body which causes
anemia.
“Seven percent people in Bangladesh are suffering from thalassemia and 40-
lakh children are affected by the disease. Every year, 10 to 12 thousand
babies are being born in the country with thalassemia disease that has no
effective treatment,” he said.
Like Rangpur, the World Thalassemia Day was observed in divisional,
district, upazila levels to make people of the disease.
Both government and non-government organisations organised different
programmes including rally, discussions and seminar to highlight different
aspects of Thalassemia disease.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes an
abnormal form of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood
cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of
red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia is a condition in which human
body does not have enough normal, healthy red blood cells.
Thalassemia is inherited, meaning that at least one of parents must be a
carrier of the disease. It is caused by either a genetic mutation or a
deletion of certain key gene fragments.
According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 7
percent of the Bangladesh’s population is carriers of beta-Thalassemia while
four percent are carriers of HbE (Classification of Alpha).
BSS/CORR/MMR/RY/20:08 hrs