Hyderabad: An awareness seminar on thalassemia was held at the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science (IMCS), University of Sindh, in collaboration with Sindh Graduates Association (SGA) Qasimabad and Kashif Iqbal Thalassemia Care Center Karachi.
The seminar aimed to raise awareness among students, teachers and university employees about thalassemia and highlight the importance of preventive measures against the inherited blood disorder.
According to a university spokesperson, Founder and Chairman of Kashif Iqbal Thalassemia Care Center Karachi Muhammad Iqbal, Awareness Officer Syed Asif Hussain, Associate Professor at IMCS and Director Sindh University Testing Center Dr Aftab Ahmed Chandio and SGA Hyderabad Vice President Muhammad Saleem Korejo attended the seminar and spoke about the causes, prevention and social responsibilities related to thalassemia.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Iqbal said thalassemia was an inherited blood disorder and creating public awareness was essential for its prevention.
He said couples should undergo thalassemia screening before marriage and know their thalassemia status, which could help reduce thalassemia major cases in the future.
He emphasized the role of educational institutions in creating awareness among young people and promoting the trend of mandatory pre-marriage screening.
Muhammad Iqbal said thalassemia patients regularly required blood transfusions and urged healthy people to donate blood to help meet their needs. He also appealed to students and teachers to actively participate in blood donation campaigns and encourage others to donate blood.
Awareness Officer Syed Asif Hussain said providing basic information about thalassemia to every young person was a pressing need. He explained that a person carrying thalassemia minor could lead a normal-looking healthy life, but when two thalassemia minor carriers married, there was a risk of their children developing thalassemia major.
Dr Aftab Ahmed Chandio and SGA Hyderabad Vice President Muhammad Saleem Korejo said universities were not only centers of education and research but also played a vital role in promoting social awareness.
They stressed the importance of pre-marriage screening, blood donation and awareness activities for the prevention of thalassemia.
A blood donation and screening camp was also organized on the occasion, where free thalassemia minor and CBC screening tests were conducted for students and teachers.
Around 200 students and teachers underwent screening tests and participated in the blood donation activity.