“I was proud to walk side by side with children living with Thalassaemia, their parents and leaders of the KBDO and was inspired by the voluntary zeal of the KBDO leaders,” said Hanson to participants and guests upon arrival at the complex.

“World Vision Korea has already extended Rs2.4 million (US$50,000) financial assistance to the KBDO, in recognition of its vital and invaluable work to prevent the suffering of so many children,” he added.

Every year more than 5,000 babies who are born with Thalassemia Major die before reaching their 15th birthday

Some 500 to 700 children are diagnosed with the disease every month. Every year more than 5,000 babies who are born with Thalassemia Major die before reaching their 15th birthday due to the unavailability of properly screened and matched blood.

During the event, the Government of Pakistan’s Cabinet Secretary, Ejaz Rahim explained that marriages within clans and families with strong tribal bonds are primarily responsible for the spread of Thalassaemia among children.

World Vision is confident that awareness raising will reduce the spread of the disease. This year its staff helped to draft a bill for the establishment of Thalessaemia Centres at both national and provincial locations where blood can be screened. Due to this bill, efforts are now underway in the National Assembly for the introduction of legislation that would require mandatory blood screening prior to marriage.

Thalassemia Major necessitates a blood transfusion every 15 to 20 days. Transfusions are expensive and bone marrow treatment costs up to US$100,000 per patient.

Poor, remote districts such as Mansehra and Battagram in the NWFP, with a population of almost 1.5 million, lack awareness of the disease. The districts also lack proper medical facilities for the prevention and treatment of Thalassaemia and other blood related diseases, including the screening of blood for Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

While families cannot physically nor financially access such treatment, other low cost interventions exist. The promotion and support of regular medical check-ups of children with Thalassaemiac indications and the provision of medication and proper blood screening before blood transfusions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases help reduce the incidence of Thalassaemia.

World Vision, together with its partner agencies, including the KBDO, is appealing for further funding to improve the quality of life for some 20,000 children in the Mansehra and Battagram districts.

A widespread education campaign on the prevention of Thalassaemia, Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS and adoption of safe reproductive health practices will be coupled with upgraded medical equipment and medicine to selected medical facilities.

Better health of children with Thalassaemia will enable them to attend school on a regular basis

Children will obtain safe, free treatment, including desferal injections to prevent a dangerous increase of iron in the blood, which is a leading cause of clinical deterioration and often death in patients with severe forms of Thalassemia.

Planning and Advocacy Officers will educate the public through the media, door-to-door visits, village committees, seminars and the distribution of pamphlets and magazines.

The project is providing trained staff including medical officers, nurses and blood and laboratory technicians to increase the efficiency level of treatment provided to patients.

Better health of children with Thalassaemia will enable them to attend school on a regular basis, experience improved quality of life and give them the opportunity of learning to manage the disease into their adult life.

World Vision Pakistan hopes that other funding offices will take the lead of World Vision Korea in recognising the severity of the disease, its strong corrolation with HIV/AIDS and offer financial assistance to give Pakistani children a hopeful future.


Photo: World Vision Pakistan
Country Director Sigurd Hanson (left) walks side by side the local Mullah and World Vision Pakistan Field Officer, Nasir Hussain during the recent World Thalassaemia Day march in Mansehra, North West Frontier Province (NWFP).