Thalassemia patients seek government support for treatment

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Over 240 children suffering from thalassemia disease in northern Balkh province have urged the government for support and people for blood donation, an official said on Tuesday.

Hayatullah Salar, the Blood Bank section head of the Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Hospital in Balkh, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 244 children suffering from thalassemia disease have been provided with registration cards.

He said the Blood Bank provided free-of-cost blood to these patients three days in a week --- Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.

Although Salar says that he collected blood for thalassemia and hemophilia patients through various campaigns, he wanted people to donate blood in order to keep these patients alive

Dr. Habibullah, the Children’s Ward in-charge, said Thalassemia is a hereditary disease and is caused by genetic disorders; these patients should receive blood regularly and continuously from health centers when needed.

He added that patients with thalassemia in the country could survive only by regular blood transfusions, but full treatment is impossible in the country

Abdul Qayyoum, a resident of Balkh province, said one of his sons suffered from Thalassemia and he was financially not stable enough to treat his son, he urged government support for the treatment of his son.

Thalassemia is generally called a blood cancer disease the treatment of which is possible through bone transplant but the treatment facility is not available in Afghanistan.

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