What is Thalassemia?
What is Thalassemia?
Thalassemia is an inherited (i.e., passed from parents to children through genes) blood disorder caused when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein called hemoglobin, an important part of red blood cells. 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.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the cells of the body. Oxygen is a sort of food that cells use to function. 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 Awareness
Did you know that beta thalassemia major is the most severe form of thalassemia? By staying committed to long-term treatment, people with thalassemia can enjoy a full life.
Thalassaemia is the world’s most common genetic blood condition which affects the production of haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying component in red blood cells. People living with the more severe form, beta thalassaemia major, are unable to produce enough or in some cases any haemoglobin. Amit, who has the blood disorder beta thalassaemia majorAs a result, without treatment, they would be unable to transport oxygen around the body, which would cause death. To combat the anaemia it causes, those living with beta thalassaemia major begin blood transfusions in early infancy from as young as three months old. These blood transfusions are life-long treatments and are needed every two to four weeks.
Quality Health Care
All patients suffer with Thalassemia Major and belong to less-advantaged families who cannot afford monthly expenses of standard thalassemia care which includes blood transfusion, medicines, IRON Chelation, Desferal Therapy, OPD, lab tests etc. It is worth highlighting that HIWT has a commitment to provide 100% free of cost quality services without any discrimination. The detailed registration forms can be obtained upon request.
Get Involved
Under its Thalassemia Major Eradication Program, HIWT has been providing 100% free of cost quality medical care and education to 279 registered Thal Stars (Thalassemia Children) for the past 10 years. Considering the harsh realities of Pakistan, where 5 out of every 100 people are affected by the disorder (with approximately 9 million people afflicted with Thalassemia minor and 90,000-100,000 people carrying Thalassemia major),