ISLAMABAD - The weeklong activities to create awareness among masses for prevention and treatment of the Thalassaemia disease and encourage patients to involve in normal life activities starts here from today (Wednesday).
The Thalassaemia Week is being arranged by Thalassaemia Awareness and Protection in Pakistan (TAPP), Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan, Cure2Children, Jameela Sultana Foundation, Thalassaemia Welfare Society and some educational institutions of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The disease is an inherited blood disorder in which human body does not produce adequate amount of Haemoglobin in the red blood cells resulting into severe anaemia. Children suffering from the diseases require blood transfusion every month to save their lives in addition to treatment for iron overload due to the excessive number of transfusions.
“The weeklong activities would commence with a cooking competition to be held at Islamabad Model College for Girls F-7/2 in which female girls of Thalassaemia Major would participate,” President TAPP Ayesha Abid said. She said an Essay Competition would be held on May 3 at Rifah International University Rawalpindi in which the Thalassaemics would exhibit their skills by writing on ‘Thalassaemia-free Pakistan’.
On May 4, a painting competition among the Thalassaemia patients would be organized at Thalassaemia Welfare Society Rawalpindi. The Society has already started pasting informative stickers on vehicles for awareness among the people. As part of weeklong activities, a two-day conference would also be held on May 5 and 6 at International Islamic Medical College Rawalpindi.
Talking to this agency, Principal IIMC Masood Anwar said the two-day event would be addressed by doctors, patients their parents and executives of civil society organizations working for awareness and prevention of Thalassaemia. He said the prominent scholars like Dr Anis Ahmed, Vice Chancellor Rifah University would highlight the Islamic aspects of prevention from the disease to address remove misunderstanding among the people.
On May 7, a blood donation camp would be organised by Burhani Blood Donors Welfare Association that would be used for blood transfusion to the patients. A grand closing event would be held at Pakistan National Council of the Arts on May 8 that would comprise presentations on treatment, prevention and stage performances. A special song ‘Aas ka diya jalana hay’ (beacon of hope is to light) would be released on the occasion that has been written by Hassan Abbas Raza and Mohammad Ali is the singer.
Ayesha Abid said the weeklong activities would be taken part by the Thalassaemia patients from PIMS, Holy Family Hospital, Thalassaemia Welfare Society and Jameela Sultana Foundation.