Hon’ble HFM and Hon’ble Chairman IRCS, Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre at Indian Red Cross Society’s National Headquarters (IRCS NHQ) Blood Bank on August 18, 2020.
Haemoglobinopathies, such as Thalassemia and sickle cell disease are preventable but inherited disorders of red blood cells, These illnesses are chronic, life impairing and in some cases, life threatening and impose a heavy emotional and financial burden on families. Thalassemia, requires lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, concurrently placing a heavy burden on our healthcare services.
India has the largest number of children with thalassemia major in the world – about 1 to 1.5 lakhs, and about 10,000 -15,000 babies with thalassemia major are born every year. Moreover, it is estimated that approximately 42 million people are silent carriers of B - thalassemia in our country, who run the risk of becoming parents to children with serious diseases if this disease is not detected before a family is planned.
This program will aid in prevention of birth of children affected with hemoglobinopathies, through well planned screening programs, information dissemination and awareness generation activities and help avert the imminent threat of this genetic disorder turning into a major health problem.