MADURAI
Young children suffering from Thalassemia and Hemophilia were led to observe the World Thalassemia Day by releasing blue and white helium balloons in the sky here on Tuesday. They also took part in a series of competitions hosted by Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and Institute of Child Health and Resource Centre (ICH and RC) and received prizes.
Several doctors took part in an awareness meeting on the two blood disorders.
S. Balashankar, Director, ICH and RC, said that it was earlier a difficult task for Thalassemia patients to survive as they would die due to the lack of timely blood transfusion or because of excess iron in blood during transfusion.
With medical advancements, a ‘Daycare procedure initiative’ has been inaugurated by the GRH for the paediatrics department.
“Now, controlled transfusion can take place in nine hours at the hospital. This will ensure that young patients do not have to skip school with little mortality,” he said.
Dr. Balashankar, former Dean of GRH, and president of IAP, Madurai, S. Shanmugasundaram, and Medical Superintendent of GRH, P. Raja, said that children affected by these disorders must be treated normally. Restrictions or reminders of the disease will not help them reach greater heights.
Dr. Balashankar said that the primary cause of the disease was marrying within the family. “Antenatal tests and gene tests can be conducted for parents prior to conceiving children to avoid such complications,” he said.
Currently, there are a total of 60 children being treated for Thalassemia and 104 for Hemophilia. “With advanced treatment and surgery, the disorders can be contained,” Dr. Raja said.
Professor of Medicine, M. Natarajan, said that seven bone marrow transplant procedures had taken place through the GRH via public-private partnership with famous hospitals like Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Such facility wouldl be available for children at the GRH soon, he added.
The event was held in association with Hemophilia Society, Madurai Chapter. They distributed a book on the intricacies of the disorder.