Dhaka: The World Thalassaemia Day will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world to raise awareness about thalassaemia and its prevention. The theme of this year’s observance is: ‘Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen’.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has issued a message highlighting that approximately two crore people in Bangladesh carry the thalassaemia gene, which poses a significant concern for public health. The Prime Minister emphasized the urgent need for effective measures to ensure the health and well-being of future generations.
He mentioned that the government has adopted a preventive approach under the principle that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ deeming it the most effective strategy to combat thalassaemia. The government is also working towards building a modern, people-oriented healthcare system, which includes the implementation of an ‘e-Health Card’ initiative. This digital system is designed to store citizens’ health information, enabling easy access to health records and allowing doctors to retrieve patients’ medical histories efficiently.
Experts explain that thalassaemia is a hereditary blood disorder affecting haemoglobin production. Individuals with one defective gene become carriers, while those with both defective genes develop the disease. Symptoms typically appear within one to two years of birth, manifesting as paleness, weakness, frequent infections, poor weight gain, jaundice, and irritability.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, 11.4 percent of the population in Bangladesh are thalassaemia carriers, an increase from 7-8 percent in 2014-15. The country is estimated to have between 60,000 to 70,000 thalassaemia patients.