Over 300 children, suffering from thalassaemia and other blood diseases including hemophilia, were given precious gifts at a joint ceremony held by Umair Sana Foundation in collaboration with Sindh Medical University on the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan in the city.

Several activities including quiz competition and cake-cutting events were held to mark the independence day of the country.

Vice Chancellor Sindh Medical University Dr. Tariq Rafi and Secretary General Umair Sana Foundation Dr. Saquib Ansari distributed gifts among the children and vowed to continue such ceremonies in the days to come for the children suffering from dreaded diseases.

Students of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) including Iqra Ansari and others helped gather gifts for the children and assisted the organisers in holding the ceremony while pledging to continue their support to the organisations that have been helping the poor to fight the incurable blood diseases.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ansari said that Umair Sana Foundation has been struggling to create awareness for thalassaemia for a decade combined with the activities to harness hidden capabilities of these children.

“It is our moral and social responsibilities to create opportunities for their healthy activities. Omair Sana Foundation has been traditionally arranging activities on different national and religious events with thalassaemia children,” he added.

Those who spoke at the event, included: Dr Hamayun (SMU), Ms Hijab Manzar (Sindh Social Welfare Department), former test cricketer Moin Khan, Ms Iqra Ansari (Smile Student Society), Dr. Tahir Sultan Shamsi (Director NIBD) and Obaid Hashmi. They praised the Umair Sana Foundation for making efforts for the eradication of thalassaemia from the country.

Meanwhile, Administrator KMC Muhammad Hussain Syed has said that the number of children suffering from thalassaemia has crossed 0.15 million mark and the increase in blood diseases has assumed alarming proportions.

He expressed these views while speaking at a gift distribution ceremony for children suffering from thalassaemia, held at the Al-Mustafa Medical Centre.

Patron-in-Chief of Al-Mustafa Welfare Society Haji Hanif Tayyab, Haji Hanif Jano, General Secretary Haji Abdul Ghani Salman and other office-bearers and members were also present on the occasion.

The Administrator Karachi said that about seven per cent people in Pakistan had so far been reported to have thalassaemia and hemophilia, adding, “These people could also lead a normal life and live up to 50 to 60 years if provided with timely and proper treatment of these diseases”.

He praised the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in providing free of cost blood to the needy and poor people.

Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that cousin marriages were considered main reason behind this and the parents have to suffer with acute pain if no proper treatment of thalassaemia or hemophilia children was available in the city.

He said that in order to save the next generation from catching these diseases it was necessary to go through the hemoglobin electro processes test before marriage.

The administrator said that the KMC would soon begin this test at its hospitals, besides measures were being taken to ensure provision of blood at KMC-run hospitals.