Usman Institute of Technology (UIT) affiliated with NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, recently held an event organized by UIT Alumni Tehseen Ahmed, Yasir Ahmed and Saifullah Khan. The event was organised in collaboration with the Help Transform Welfare Organization (HTWO) and Sahira Foundation to raise awareness about Thalassemia.
The event outlined the steps that have to be taken in order to rid the country of this blood disease. Some suggestions given in the event included to avoid marriages between Thalassemia Minor couples and to identify the disease through a blood test that must be taken before planning marriages.
Thalassemia is a group of blood disorders passed from parents to children through genes (inherited). A person who has thalassemia makes fewer healthy red blood cells. Their red blood cells do not produce enough haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. People with severe thalassemia can have various medical complications and require lifelong blood transfusions for treatment.
The HTWO is a non-profit organization which contributes to society by holding blood donation drives, awareness sessions and events to help those in need by empowering themselves. HTWO President Tehseen Ahmed stressed upon the need to have mandatory tests as part of the admissions process for engineering students. As part of his efforts, he stated that he had held several meetings with various university directors and had also requested the Chief Minister Sindh to make an amendment to graduate admission policy.
UIT Director Zahir Ali Syed stated that – “Our awareness activities focus on simple steps that can be implemented to reduce the condition’s potentially devastating effects and improve the quality of life for thalassemia patients. One of our top priorities is to ensure people are aware of thalassemia and are able to recognize its symptoms as early as possible.”
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