City Desk :
It came as a bolt from the blue for a happy couple when their seven-year-old child was diagnosed with Thalassemia, a blood disorder which requires transfusions at a regular interval to remain healthy and alive.
Banker by profession, Promotosh Barua and his wife Debika Rani Barua were leading a pleasant living along with their two children- Prashun Barua, 7, and Jhorna Barua, 5.
As ill luck would have it Thalassemia disorder nested in Prashun who was found not showing interest as earlier to play with his sister and other children as well. Moreover, the tender boy looked tired, grimed and bored all the time, causing concern to his parents. At one stage, Prashun fell sick seriously, forcing his parents to take him to a medicine specialist. After necessary medical examinations, Prashun was diagnosed with Thalassemia. Doctors attributed the disease to his inability to runto and fro and play like other children.
Thalassaemia is the most common congenital disorder in Bangladesh that bears the health burden of having nearly 7000 children with Thalassemia disease every year.
On May 8, The World Thalassemia Day was observed in the country as elsewhere in the globe to raise awareness about the disease. This year’s theme was “Begin thalassemia prevention from young age, blood test before marriage will make the future generation safe.”
The World Thalassemia Day is also observed every year on May 8 aiming to raise awareness about this disease among the people throughout the world.
Thalassaemia Center of Dhaka Shishu Hospital President Dr A Wakar Khan said Thalassemia not only affects children, it also creates psychological and social problems in the family. To prevent life-long agony, all couples must get a genetic test before planning a child, he added.
Expressing concern over the growing number of Thalassemia patients in the country, experts called for testing blood before marriage to prevent the disease.
Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) adviser and Public Administration Ministry Joint Secretary Dr Md Aminul Islam, who is on post-retirement leave, said they have taken many initiatives marking the ‘Mujib Borsho’ to prevent the disease in the country.
He underscored the need for raising awareness among people to prevent it, saying media can play an important role in this regard. Citing World Health Organization (WHO), Aminul said some 7 percent people of total population are carriers of Thalassemia in Bangladesh. Around 7,000 children are born with the disease every year, he added.
“We have no exact data on how many Thalassemia patients are there in Bangladesh. But according to International Thalassemia Federation, around 60,000 people are carrying Thalassemia in Bangladesh. The disease turns rich men into paupers.
A patient needs one or two bags blood in every month to survive,” he added.
He also said they will create a volunteers’ group with 10,000 blood donors soon.
It came as a bolt from the blue for a happy couple when their seven-year-old child was diagnosed with Thalassemia, a blood disorder which requires transfusions at a regular interval to remain healthy and alive.
Banker by profession, Promotosh Barua and his wife Debika Rani Barua were leading a pleasant living along with their two children- Prashun Barua, 7, and Jhorna Barua, 5.
As ill luck would have it Thalassemia disorder nested in Prashun who was found not showing interest as earlier to play with his sister and other children as well. Moreover, the tender boy looked tired, grimed and bored all the time, causing concern to his parents. At one stage, Prashun fell sick seriously, forcing his parents to take him to a medicine specialist. After necessary medical examinations, Prashun was diagnosed with Thalassemia. Doctors attributed the disease to his inability to runto and fro and play like other children.
Thalassaemia is the most common congenital disorder in Bangladesh that bears the health burden of having nearly 7000 children with Thalassemia disease every year.
On May 8, The World Thalassemia Day was observed in the country as elsewhere in the globe to raise awareness about the disease. This year’s theme was “Begin thalassemia prevention from young age, blood test before marriage will make the future generation safe.”
The World Thalassemia Day is also observed every year on May 8 aiming to raise awareness about this disease among the people throughout the world.
Thalassaemia Center of Dhaka Shishu Hospital President Dr A Wakar Khan said Thalassemia not only affects children, it also creates psychological and social problems in the family. To prevent life-long agony, all couples must get a genetic test before planning a child, he added.
Expressing concern over the growing number of Thalassemia patients in the country, experts called for testing blood before marriage to prevent the disease.
Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) adviser and Public Administration Ministry Joint Secretary Dr Md Aminul Islam, who is on post-retirement leave, said they have taken many initiatives marking the ‘Mujib Borsho’ to prevent the disease in the country.
He underscored the need for raising awareness among people to prevent it, saying media can play an important role in this regard. Citing World Health Organization (WHO), Aminul said some 7 percent people of total population are carriers of Thalassemia in Bangladesh. Around 7,000 children are born with the disease every year, he added.
“We have no exact data on how many Thalassemia patients are there in Bangladesh. But according to International Thalassemia Federation, around 60,000 people are carrying Thalassemia in Bangladesh. The disease turns rich men into paupers.
A patient needs one or two bags blood in every month to survive,” he added.
He also said they will create a volunteers’ group with 10,000 blood donors soon.
