Awareness is needed to prevent Thalassemia.

One out of every 14 people is a carrier of Thalassemia, while over 70,000 children are affected by the disease at present in Bangladesh.

Besides, around 6,000 children are born with different types of Thalassemia diseases in the country, putting the health of the future generation at serious risk, experts observed in a webinar.

Beacon Pharmaceutical, a leading oncology drugmaker in Bangladesh, and Kaler Kantho, a Bangla-language newspaper, recently organized a virtual discussion on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day.

The day is observed on May 8 every year and the theme of the 2021 was “Addressing Health Inequalities Across the Global Thalassemia Community.”

The global Thalassemia community also underscored the need to raise awareness about the disease and help patients lead normal lives in society.

Imbued with the bonding spirit, the webinar was held under the chairmanship of Md Ebadul Karim, Managing Director of Beacon Pharmaceutical.

Speakers at the webinar equivocally called upon all concerned people in the country to build awareness in preventing the disease and helping the patients lead a normal life like other people in the society.

Taking part in the discussion, Imdadul Haque Milon, editor of Dainik Kaler Kantho, said there is no alternative but to raise awareness to prevent the disease. Media can play a significant role in making the efforts a success, he noted.

In his speech, Ebadul Karim, a successful visionary business entrepreneur in Bangladesh, said that Thalassemia is emerging as a serious threat worldwide and that expert opinions are needed now to protect Bangladesh from the risk.

Social media is playing a significant role in raising awareness of the disease, he said.

Ebadul Karim, also a lawmaker of the ruling Awami League, underscored the need to ensure a pre-marriage Thalassemia screening certificate as part of efforts to control the disease in the country.

The government and private sectors will have to work together with a commitment to raise awareness among the public so that the disease cannot spread across the country, he said.

Some preventative strategies of Thalassemia were discussed in the programme from the context of Bangladesh, which could be effective in preventing the disease, he added.