World Thalassemia Day was observed in Naogaon on Friday through various awareness and health service programmes organized by Naogaon Blood Circle. As part of the observance, volunteers distributed leaflets and conducted free blood grouping services at College Mor and several other locations across the town.
The organisation also carried out awareness campaigns, prepared lists of thalassemia patients and collected information on voluntary blood donors. General Secretary of Naogaon Blood Circle Md. Rizvi Ahmed Rizwan said thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which patients require regular blood transfusions to survive. "Currently, around 100,000 thalassemia patients are living in Bangladesh. Naogaon Blood Circle has been working tirelessly within its capacity to support these patients and ensure necessary services," he said. He also said thalassemia is a completely preventable disease if proper awareness is created before marriage.
"If two carriers of thalassemia get married, there is a strong possibility that their children may suffer from the disease. Hemoglobin electrophoresis tests can identify whether a person is a carrier. Therefore, carrier screening should be done before marriage," he added. Adviser to the organisation Md. Shahnewaz Roksy said thalassemia patients survive entirely on donated blood and urged healthy people to come forward for voluntary blood donation. "We are trying our best to stand beside thalassemia patients by arranging blood regularly for them," he said. Founded in 2017, Naogaon Blood Circle has been conducting humanitarian and social activities including voluntary blood donation, support for thalassemia patients, library services, healthcare assistance and social awareness programmes aimed at encouraging youth participation in volunteer work.
