It’s high time that people are made aware of the preventable nature of thalassemia. '
Investment in a prevention programme can eradicate this disease in 25 years, said Dr Tahir Shamsi, a hematologist and transplant physician.
Thalassemia tests should be a mandatory for marriage contracts.
He estimates that the country may have 200,000 thalassemics by the year 2019, with six thousand new cases added annually to the current number of 80,000.
We need a country-wide screening programme.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2011.
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