Delhi Government Asks Hospitals to Sensitize Staff and Public on Thalassaemia

The Delhi government has directed all its hospitals and health centers to train and sensitize employees and general public so as to prevent thalassaemia cases in the capital state of India.

Thalassaemia is an autosomal recessive blood disorder inherited from parental genes. According to Indian Council of Medical Research study 1 out of every 18 is a thalassemia carrier in Delhi.

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All government hospitals and health centers in the state have been communicated in this regard as part of International Thalassaemia Day 2015 celebration.

"The diagnostic and treatment facilities for thalassemia are available with GTB Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, BSA Hospital and DDU Hospital free of cost. The remaining hospitals have been communicated to coordinate with these hospitals for the diagnosis of thalassemia trait after usual screening procedures," said Dr. S.K, Arora, Additional Director at Health department of Delhi government.

Around 200 births of thalassaemia major take place every year in Delhi. These patients require blood transfusion every two or four weeks and iron chelation therapy for survival, which can only extend up-to 30 years on average at the most.

The average cost of treatment per patient is Rs.50,000-Rs.2,00,000 per year which is bound to increase further with inflation. A thalassaemic child on an average requires 30 units of blood every year.

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Source-Medindia

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