Bengaluru: Aster CMI Hospital in association with DKMS BMST Foundation India (DKMS-BMST) conducted an event to mark the occasion of World Thalassemia Day which was observed recently. More than 100 delegates were present along with the Deputy Director & State Nodal officer, State Blood Cell and Directorate of Health and Family welfare services. The event focused around creating awareness on the condition of Thalassemia patients and aimed at registering more number of potential stem cell donors to give maximum number of Thalassemia patients a second chance at life.
Every six minutes, someone in India is diagnosed with blood cancer, thalassemia and aplastic anaemia! By registering with DKMS-BMST, donors can donate their stem cells to someone in need of a stem cell transplant. The event was held to not only to get help for Thalassemia patients but also to improve their survival chances and give hope to those patients who are searching for a tissue-matching donor for a lifesaving treatment.
Commenting on Thalassemia, Dr Stalin Ramprakash, Consultant, Paediatric Haematology, Oncology & BMT, Aster CMI Hospital, said: “Beta thalassaemia is the most commonly inherited genetic disorder in India and India is the world capital of thalassaemia. Now most of the infectious diseases are coming under control, non-infectious conditions like thalassaemia are contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. Thalassaemia is an easily preventable disease as has been well demonstrated by countries like Italy but there needs to be a co-ordinated effort in increasing awareness and political will. The conservative management is improving but still a long way to go and bone marrow transplant offers the hope of permanent cure for a proportion of these children. With World Thalassaemia Day being observed recently, let us make a resolve to work towards prevention of birth of thalassaemic children, optimise the care of existing patients and consider bone marrow transplant for all eligible children – finally aiming towards a thalassaemia free India in the future.”
Currently, Thalassemia has no permanent cure, and people afflicted with the ailment need regular blood transfusions to live. The disorder is caused by mutations in the DNA of cells that make haemoglobin — the substance in an individuals red blood cells which carries oxygen throughout one’s body. The mutations associated with thalassemia are passed on from parents to children.
Speaking on the need to increase the support for thalassemic patients Gagandeep Singh Chandok, President, Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore said: “This event is to celebrate the World Thalassaemia Day which is celebrated worldwide on 8th May. It is an event to unite and bring ‘Us’, the Thalassaemics, together to thank the Health and Family welfare services for the free iron chelation medicines in Karnataka. We want to thank DKMS BMST Foundation for the Free HLA camp. We are thankful to Aster CMI Hospital for their support in conducting this event and for the free health check-up. We hope to get more support from everyone in improving the living conditions and ensuring the best treatment for all Thalassaemics in the state, as well as well as make Karnataka a zero thalassemia Birth state. We are eagerly waiting for the Thalassaemia registry and disability certification to start in the state as soon as possible. We, the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore, will provide all the support required by the government for whenever they require it, and will continue to fight for the rights and the welfare of all Thalassaemics. ”
Also speaking at the event, Dr.Swatantrakumar Banakar ,Deputy Director & State Nodal officer, State Blood Cell, Directorate of Health and Family welfare services said: “We will ensure Thalassemics will continue to get free blood transfusions and free iron chelation medicines in the state. We will work with the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore to ensure that all Thalassaemics get the best medical treatment as well as work on Thalassemia awareness and prevention programmes. We will work on launching the Thalassemia registry soon in co-ordination with the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore. We will be putting up posters in all blood banks and hospitals in Karnataka to make all Thalassemics aware of the availability of free Iron chelation medicines in all district hospitals.”
“We will work on programs and projects to provide the best medical treatment in the state of Karnataka. Free Iron chelation medicines have been made available in all district hospitals. We are working on a Thalassaemia prevention programs to bring about awareness of Thalassemia and make Karnataka a Zero Thalassemia Birth state. It is important for Patient Run Organisations like the Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Society of Bangalore, to work side by side with us in all our programs and highlight the problems that the Thalassaemics are facing so that we can solve them. We are working on the Disability certification program for the Thalassaemics and will get the same issued at the earliest.” said Dr.Prabhakar.T.S, Director, Directorate of Health and Family welfare services, Bengaluru while addressing the audience on the government’s work towards making Karnataka a zero Thalassemia Birth state.
About Aster DM Healthcare
Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in multiple GCC states and is an emerging healthcare player in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence the Company is one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary healthcare through its 19 hospitals, 101 clinics and 207pharmacies. These are manned by our17,300+ employees from across the geographies that we are present in, delivering on a simple yet strong promise to its people: “We’ll treat you well.” We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the “Aster”, “Medcare” and “Access” brands.
About DKMS-BMST
DKMS BMST Foundation India is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anaemia. The aim of the organization is to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors. DKMS-BMST provides patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant with a second chance at life. DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organisations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centres in the world.
