Every year, the 8th of May is observed as World Thalassaemia Day. The day is also observed as International Thalassaemia Day. The day is observed to raise awareness amongst the public and stakeholders about thalassemia, a genetic disorder. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised an event in New Delhi on the occasion of World Thalassaemia Day. Apurva Chandra, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, presided over the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Apurva Chandra stressed the importance of timely detection and prevention of Thalassemia to tackle the disease.

Background to the World Thalassemia Day

Panos Ennglezos, founder of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF), established the World Thalassaemia Day in 1994 in memory of his son George, who died due to the disease. The main objective behind the foundation of World Thalassaemia Day was to mobilise public opinion and bring together the public authorities, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to promote discussion and actions on preventing, managing and treatment of the disease.

Theme of the 2024 World Thalassemia Day

The theme of the 2024 World Thalassemia Day is "Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassaemia Treatment for All."

What is Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder. The disease is passed from the parents to their children. The Thalassemia patient's body does not produce the required amount of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is a protein which is an important part of the red blood cells. The cells of the body are enriched by oxygen due to the red blood cells which carry oxygen. The red cells are transported by the blood through out the body.

If enough haemoglobin is not produced in the body, then enough healthy red blood cells are not produced in the body leading to less transportation of oxygen to the cells of the body.

This creates a condition in the body called anaemia.

An anaemic person tiers easily, feels weakness and has difficulty breathing after intense physical work.

Depending upon the condition of anaemia, people can have severe or mild anaemia. Severe anaemia is often fatal.

Treatment

There is no cure for Thalassemia. Blood transfusions are used to treat thalassemia. Depending upon the severity of the case, the need for blood transfusion could be occasional or more frequent.

Thalassemia is a lifelong condition, but due to advances in medical science, treatments have improved over the years. People are now living with thalassemia for longer and have a better quality of life.

Normal Haemoglobin Level in a Healthy Human

Haemoglobin is measured in grams per deciliter of blood. The ideal haemoglobin level for an average healthy human is as follows:

Women: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dl
Men: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dl
Children: 11 to 16 g/dl

Pregnant women: 11 to 15.1 g/dl.