Paticipants of an awareness walk organized by GCU Blood Donors’ Society. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE: Several children suffering from thalassemia on Friday spent a memorable day at the Government College University (GCU).
The children visited the varsity’s library, classes and academic departments before leading an on-campus awareness walk along with the vice chancellor, faculty members and students to highlight the importance of donating blood and parental diagnosis. A group of physically-challenged students also participated in the walk. The walk was organised by the GCU Blood Donors’ Society (BDS) and the Fatimid Foundation in connection with World Thalassemia Day slated to be observed on Sunday (tomorrow).
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Hassan Amir Shah paid tribute to the courage and unwavering faith of the patients and their parents’ struggle.
He said the GCU had a very active blood donation society. Shah said it arranged blood for hundreds of thalassemia patients every year.
The vice chancellor highlighted need for raising public awareness campaigns regarding the blood disorder across the country. Shah said it was extremely unfortunate that thalassemia was the most prevalent genetically-transmitted blood disorder in Pakistan.
This, he said, was so because it could be prevented by undergoing a simple thalassemia test before getting married. GCU BDS Adviser Babar Abbasi said organising screenings to identify thalassemia carriers, genetic counselling and parental diagnosis could significantly check thalassemia from spreading.
Speaking to journalists, seven-year-old thalassemia patient Madiha Sajid said she greatly feared unavailability of blood. She said she needed blood twice a month for transfusions. Sajid called on students to regularly donate blood so that she and her other friends suffering from thalassemia were able to become doctors.
Ten-year-old, Amna Arif requested the government to initiate awareness drives to promote voluntary blood donations by the young and healthy.
Thalassemia patients Sajid Iqbal, Zoya Tariq, Mubashir Arshad, Salman Maqsood, Ramsha Munawar and Zaka Mujahid also participated in the walk. Earlier, they visited various departments of the varsity and interacted with teachers and students. They were also briefed on the history and traditions of the 150-year-old institution.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2016.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ