On the occasion of World Thalassemia Day and World Red Cross Day (both of which fall on May 8), DNA finds that AROUND 34% OF STATE’S POPULATION SUFFERS FROM INHERITED BLOOD ILLNESS CALLED SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA. GUJ’S RATHWA TRIBE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE DISEASE.
Thalassemia major and sickle cell anaemia are genetic disorders marked by defective haemoglobin in the patient’s blood. Haemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen. Defective haemoglobin can cause anaemia, fatigue and episodes of pain and breathlessness. Both the conditions are inherited and, usually, both parents must have the condition to pass on the disorder to their children.
The incidence of genetic disorders that cause severe anaemia, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease, is the highest in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. This is the finding of a recent study conducted on samples taken from different states by the sickle cell anaemia control programme supported by the Gujarat government. Of the samples from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh examined for the study, 34% were found to have sickle cell anaemia. Maharashtra is third with 33% of its population suffering from sickle cell anaemia while Bihar and Tamil Nadu are at the fourth position with 31% of its people suffering from the genetic blood disorder.
On the occasion of World Thalassemia Day and World Red Cross Day (both of which fall on May 8), the Indian Red Cross Society on Sunday will screen 10,000 young people in the state for genetic disorders. In Ahmedabad, the Red Cross will set up five centres for this purpose. Mahesh Trivedi, secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Ahmedabad, said that, on Sunday, teams of trained Red Cross volunteers will take oath in different rural and urban areas of the state to join the thalassemia care, awareness and prevention (CAP) mission. Volunteers joining the mission will spread awareness about the need for precautionary measures, including testing of prospective brides and grooms for thalassemia and sickle cell disease, Trivedi said.
Couples who are carriers of either of the genetic disorders must get pregnancies screened within the first few weeks of conception so that, if the foetus is found to carry the defective gene, the pregnancy can be legally terminated. Besides, volunteers would also disseminate information about the latest treatments available for the management or even cure of thalassemia and sickle cell disorders, Trivedi added.
