Dhaka:Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain has highlighted the necessity for increased public awareness of thalassaemia, identifying it as a potential significant health threat to future generations.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister underscored the critical need to educate the populace about thalassaemia, its associated risks, and preventive measures. His remarks came during a discussion organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Sandhani Central Council, and Sandhani National Eye Donation Society at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) in the capital, commemorating National Voluntary Blood and Posthumous Eye Donation Day.
Sandhani, known for its leadership in the voluntary blood and eye donation movement in Bangladesh, also manages an eye bank and promotes posthumous eye donations to aid in restoring vision for others. The minister advocated for ongoing seminars and awareness programs to educate the public on thalassaemia beyond special occasions.
He shared his efforts to raise awareness about the disease during visits to his constituency and encouraged similar actions in other communities. Additionally, the minister emphasized the importance of addressing misconceptions about blood donation and its health impacts on donors, urging doctors to leverage their professional and social interactions to motivate people to donate blood, a humanitarian act with life-saving potential.
The minister also suggested highlighting the religious aspects of blood donation to inspire more participation. He concluded by stating that increased awareness of thalassaemia could help mitigate the disease's burden while ensuring a sufficient blood supply for patients needing regular transfusions.