Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, on the occasion of World Thalassaemia Day on Thursday, emphasised the urgent need for raising awareness about the hereditary and life-threatening disease.
“Thalassaemia is not just a challenge for the individual patient but for the entire family,” he stated in his message. He urged the public to donate blood to help save the lives of patients of thalassaemia and stressed the importance of raising awareness to prevent the disease.
“Protecting the younger generation from thalassaemia is a top priority for the Sindh government,” he said, committing to comprehensive reforms in the health sector. The CM highlighted that modern medical facilities were being provided for the treatment of thalassaemia throughout the province. According to data from the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, 9,525 patients of the hereditary blood disorder, a majority of whom are children, are registered across 26 centres in Sindh.
Shah mentioned that the Sindh government had established free diagnostic desks for thalassaemia and hepatitis at two NADRA centres located in Korangi and Safoora. Additionally, efforts were under way to promote pre-marital screening to curb the spread of the disease, he added.
The CM stated that awareness campaigns were being conducted in educational institutions, media platforms and community programmes. “More effective measures are needed to prevent thalassaemia,” he said, suggesting that the introduction of a comprehensive screening programme could significantly reduce the disease's prevalence.
He also underscored the essential roles of parents, teachers and religious leaders in addressing thalassaemia and announced that public awareness campaigns would be further intensified across the province.
