More awareness urged on World Thalassemia Day

PESHAWAR: The Frontier Foundation Welfare Hospital and Blood Transfusion Services arranged a number of activities Tuesday for the children suffering from thalassemia to mark the World Thalassemia Day, which is observed on May 8 every year.

The thalassemia-hit children cut a cake along with the foundation chairman, Sahibzada Muhammad Haleem, and administrator, Dr Fakhar Zaman.

The Jihad For Zero Thalassemia (JZT) volunteers distributed gifts among the children who were admitted to the hospital and undergoing treatment for the serious blood disease. The face paintings were done for ailing children and staff members. Kids fighting the disease took part in the face-painting activity.

A noted Pashto singer and head of the Zeek Foundation — Zeek Afridi — visited the Frontier Foundation. He met the children in the wards and encouraged them.

Dr Fakhar Zaman briefed the singer on the free-of-cost services being extended to the ailing children.

Zeek Afridi praised the charity for the efforts it was making to contain the hereditary blood diseases.

The singer agreed to the Frontier Foundation officials viewpoint that there was a great need for raising awareness among the people about thalassemia. Zeek Afridi assured all support to the foundation in launching such efforts.

Earlier, the Frontier Foundation arranged a function in connection with World Thalassemia Day. Peshawar Commissioner Syed Shahab Ali Shah was the chief guest.

The commissioner said those making efforts for enabling the people to fight serious blood diseases such as thalassemia and haemophilia were doing a great work that would win them salvation in the world hereafter. He assured full help to the Frontier Foundation in this noble task.

Later, the commissioner had a round of various wards of the hospital where he met the children undergoing treatment there for the deadly diseases. Dr Fakhar Zaman briefed him.

Frontier Foundation Chairman Sahibzada Muhammad Haleem said the hospital had been providing blood transfusion services and other treatment facilities to the patients for the last 15 years. He added that the hereditary diseases could be overcome only by raising awareness among the people. A walk was arranged in the end to highlight the day.

Meanwhile, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Qazi Jamilur Rehman said that it was the responsibility of every member of the society to help fight thalassemia.

He was speaking as chief guest at a function arranged by the Hamza Foundation in connection with the World Thalassemia Day at the Peshawar Press Club.

Hamza Foundation Chairman Ijaz Ali Khan and a number of people belonging to various walks of life were present on the occasion. The senior cop said there was a dire need to prepare a strategy to prevent the spread of thalassemia as it was a devastating disease.

He said the Police Department would play a role in creating awareness among the people about the deadly disease.