KECH:
Across Pakistan, many people are affected by thalassemia, which is a genetic blood disorder. People belonging to impoverished backgrounds are more likely to be affected by the disease as they lack access to proper healthcare support and sanitation. The blood disorder is caused when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein called haemoglobin, an important part of red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen.
Patients living in underprivileged areas have limited access to healthcare facilities and are unable to afford expensive treatments. The bone marrow transplant operation, which is the only permanent cure for thalassemia has a success rate of only 30% making it an improbable option for low-income patients. The Kech Thalassemia Care Centre (KTCC) a non-governmental organisation located in Balochistan has become a beacon of hope for over 350 thalassemia patients in the area as it provides free treatment and support.
However, KTCC is currently facing an imminent challenge as the building in which the centre operates is not its permanent location, and the owner has asked them to vacate it as soon as possible. The organisation needs additional funds to construct a permanent structure with proper laboratory facilities and blood donation rooms. Kech is a large district with only one blood bank. The lack of support for blood banks in Kech will lead to an increase in thalassemia patients as there will be no access to the necessary medication and treatments. Providing support to existing blood banks like KTCC or setting up new ones is the only way to reduce the number of thalassemia patients in the region. The provincial government should facilitate KTCC as well as set up healthcare facilities in other regions of the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2023.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
