Rangpur: Renowned health experts convened in Rangpur to discuss the prevention of thalassemia, emphasizing that the disease can be entirely averted if individuals carrying the thalassemia gene avoid marrying other carriers. The discussion, hosted by Rangpur Community Medical College and Hospital (RCMCH) with support from Bangladesh Thalassemia Samity Hospital, aimed to promote widespread awareness and encourage pre-marital thalassemia blood tests to eliminate the disease in Bangladesh within the next decade.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event titled “Thalassemia Awareness and Free Medical Campaign” was attended by 250 participants, including 145 MBBS students, intern doctors, and faculty members of the esteemed private medical college. The session was presided over by Professor Dr. Md Shariful Islam of RCMCH, with Deputy Managing Director of Rangpur Group Md Ashraful Alam Al-Amin as the chief guest and Director of Rangpur Group Mohammad Moazzem Hossain Sarkar as a special guest.
Dr. AKM Ekramul Hossain, Executive Director of Bangladesh Thalassemia Samity Hospital, presented a documentary on thalassemia’s current status, treatment options, and strategies to eradicate the preventable disease from Bangladesh. He highlighted that 12 percent of the national population carries the thalassemia gene, with higher prevalence rates in Rangpur and Dinajpur at 27 and 17 percent, respectively.
Associate Professor Dr. Mafruha Akter from Dhaka Medical College Hospital delivered a scientific presentation explaining the genetic mutation causing thalassemia and its impact on hemoglobin production. She noted a 25 percent likelihood of children inheriting thalassemia if both parents are carriers, whereas no such risk exists when a carrier marries a non-carrier.
Prof Dr. M A Khan, former Head of the Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant Department at DMCH, discussed the costly treatment protocols, including regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, and advocated for media engagement to raise public awareness and promote pre-marital blood testing.
Chief guest Ashraful Alam Al-Amin pledged RCMCH’s commitment to enhancing awareness and making thalassemia treatments more accessible and affordable. The event concluded with the provision of free treatment and medicines valued at approximately Taka one-lakh to 40 thalassemia patients by Dr. Kabirul Islam and other expert physicians.