Efforts on to improve quality of life of thalassaemic patients

World Thalassaemia Day

RAWALPINDI: The “World Thalassaemia Day” is observed throughout the world including Pakistan on 8th of May every year encompassing awareness/prevention of disease. The World Health Organization identifies a new theme for the Day every year. The theme for 2017 is enunciated as “blood connects us all” and focuses on thanking blood donors for their gift of life. The Day is dedicated to venerate the Thalassemia patients and confer a chance to live normal life as well as prevent this disease through massive awareness in the community, society, country and world over. It also raises awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donations among the masses, especially the youth for Thalassaemic patients.

Among the many Thalassaemia centres working in Pakistan, Jamila Sultana Foundation (JSF) is working in Chaklala Scheme 3, Rawalpindi and making the lives better for Thalassaemic children.

World Thalassaemia Day is being observed in the form various activities to amply highlight the importance as joint venture by Safe Blood Transfusion Programme (SBTP), Jamila Sultana Foundation (JSF) and Burhani Blood Donors Welfare Association (BBDWA).

While keeping this in mind, one of the activity that is being organized is Thalassaemia Awareness Expedition, Pakistan. Expedition started on 28th April from Islamabad to pass through all the provinces interacting all the segments of society including local to create awareness about Thalassaemia and preventive measures. This expedition is headed by Murtaza Burhani along with officials and Thalassaemic children. After gone through all the provinces culminating in Islamabad, they were given a warm welcome by JSF in Ayub park stadium on Sunday evening in a special event i.e. cricket match between Thalassaemic children of JSF & PIMS. This was a Friendly Cricket Match Thalassaemic Children.  Prof Dr, Hassan Abbas Zaheer National coordinator Safe Blood Transfusion Programme was the chief guest on the occasion.

Another event seminar / variety show would be held on Monday on World Thalassaemia Day.  This grand event organized as a joint venture by JSF and Safe Blood Transfusion Program (SBTP) would be held at PNCA Auditorium. The invitees to the event would include stakeholders from all walks of life including intellectuals, health, heads of universities/colleges of Islamabad and surrounding areas including Thalassaemic patients and their families. The worthy Federal Minister of State, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest.

While talking to The News, here on Sunday, Project Director (JSF) Colonel (r) Tauqir Abbas said that Jamila Sultana Foundation a project of Global Pharmaceutical Company also known as JSF deals with the treatment and prevention of Thalassaemia, a dreadful genetic blood disorder which requires lifelong treatment. According to estimate, there are about 10 million Pakistanis who have Thalassaemia Minor, i.e. asymptomatic carriers of the Thalassaemia disease. Presently, around 100,000 children are believed to be suffering from Thalassaemia Major and every year because of lack of awareness / negligence of the society about 5,000 to 6,000 new born Thalassaemia Major Patients being added up in our population. The treatment of Thalassaemia places tremendous financial and social burden on the affected families.

Jamila Sultana Foundation was establish in 2004 to offer free quality services i.e. treatment, complete range of lab tests, medicines, blood transfusion, extended family screening/counselling including prenatal services. Equipped with state of the art technical facilities and thorough professional staff including doctors, paramedics and others providing quality services to over 650 Thalassemic patients from Punjab, KP, FATA, Kashmir including certain areas of Sind and Baluchistan.

 JSF is affiliated with Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF). The Foundation is a permanent member of Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan (TFP).

Project Director (JSF) Colonel (r) Tauqir Abbas informed that Jamila Sultana Foundation is being solely financed by Mr. Muhammad Asad Khawaja, who is the owner/CEO of Global Pharmaceuticals (Private) Limited, Islamabad. “JSF is the only organization in Pakistan which relies exclusively on Voluntary Non-Remunerated blood donors for its blood supplies and strictly following the standards of World Health Organization (WHO). JSF laboratory/blood bank is licensed under Punjab Blood Bank Authority, Govt of Pakistan. JSF has the honour to carry out blood screening of 70,752 individual’s detected 3008 Thalassaemia minor cases and transfused 49,123 blood bags to Thalassaemia major children. JSF is striving hard to improve the quality of life of the Thalassaemic patients and at the same time continue its efforts towards eradication of Thalassaemia from our society. In this regard, we seek cooperation of community conscious individuals, groups and organizations in creating awareness and healthy blood donation activities” he said.