Seminar on thalassemia awareness: Speakers urge people to donate blood to save other lives

Speakers at a one-day seminar urged the people to donate blood to save lives as every drop worth a smile and prevention was the only hope against Thalassemia. The seminar was held yesterday on the Silver Jubilee of Hamdard University on "Thalassemia awareness," under the aegis of the Faculty of Eastern Medicine of the University in collaboration with Hussaini Blood Bank at Bait al-Hikmah auditorium, Madina-tul-Hikmah.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest and head of Hussaini Blood Bank, Professor Dr Syed Sarfaraz H Jaffery said that the alternative medicines were getting popular throughout the world and the medicine "Lasona" in many countries and Hamdard's "Garlina" in Pakistan were being prescribed by the physicians. So it was a natural need that alternative medicines should be promoted in Pakistan, he proposed. Dr Jaffery said that having seen the 3D Model Competition and posters presentations of students of Faculty of Eastern Medicine he could observe that tibbi medicines could be effective in the treatment of Thalassemia. He said that good education and training together with research were being imparted to medical students in Hamdard.
"Education gives knowledge and application of knowledge is resulted in skills which make a man a perfect professional," he said, adding that thalassemia is not a simple disease, but a syndrome of many symptoms. However, it appears at the age of six months, because at this stage of age, hemoglobin is made. Iron gets in abundance in thalassemia's patient which goes in any part of the body, and creates problems for the patient, he said, adding: 'the deficiency of insulin, created in the thalassemia patient, makes him/her diabetic'. 'Bone marrow is the engine of the body and transformation of blood is the remedy of the thalassemia patient. For the disease is transferred from parents, it is suggested that medical checkup before marriage should be made compulsory and be made mandatory for nikahnama,' he urged.
Dr Jaffery lamented that people didn't donate blood and 20/22 bottles were yearly needed by Hussaini Blood Bank whereas we could be able to collect 13/14 bottles only. He emphasized on the liaison of Hamdard and Hussaini Trust. Dr Umer Daraz, a pathologist at Hussaini Blood Bank, said that thalassemia was the name of disorder of blood hemoglobin and it needed lot of blood during its treatment. 'There are three types of thalassemia 1) minor, 2) intermediate and 3) major. Without understanding the structure of hemoglobin, the complications of thalassemia could not be understood, because hemoglobin is created in cells of bone marrow and genetics play major role in the case of thalassemia.
Professor Dr Tabeeba Tasneem Qureshi, principal, Hamdard Al-Majeed College of Eastern Medicine said that the faculty, according to the vision of its founder, Hakim Mohammed Said has been functioning to give relief to the ailing people and organizing free medical camps, awareness lectures, screening camps on Hepatitis C, Helicobacter Pylori, Eczema, Psychological assessment, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Diabetes. She urged people to donate blood, as according to researchers, donating blood every four months was an excellent practice to maintain good health.
Professor Dr Shabibul Hasan, vice chancellor, Hamdard University said that first and foremost step to be taken to eliminate thalassemia was to create awareness about the reasons of this disease. Professor Dr Tabiba Saima Ghayas thanked participants. A number of physicians, teachers and students attended the seminar.-PR