World Thalassemia Day was observed on Wednesday.

This year’s theme is “Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassemia Treatment for All’’.

International Thalassemia Day is a powerful call to raise awareness about this condition and its impact while celebrating solidarity of resilient Thalassemia community worldwide. 

The thalassemia are inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased haemoglobin production.

When there isn’t enough hemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells don’t function properly and they last shorter periods of time, so there are fewer healthy red blood cells traveling in the bloodstream.

When there are not enough healthy red blood cells, there is also not enough oxygen delivered to all the other cells of the body, which may cause a person to feel tired, weak or short of breath. This is a condition called anemia. People with thalassemia may have mild or severe anemia. Severe anemia can damage organs and lead to death.

Thalassemia is a treatable disorder that can be well-managed with blood transfusions and chelation therapy.

In a message on World Thalassemia Awareness Day, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif says there is need to raise awareness among public for prevention of Thalassemia. 

She said patients suffering from Thalassemia deserve special attention from society as they require regular blood transfusions, which is a painful process.

She said that genetic testing before marriage can prevent Thalassemia and donating blood can help Thalassemia patients.