ABBOTTABAD: The Thalassaemia Care Centre was opened at the Ayub Teaching Hospital here on Monday.

Dean of the Ayub Medical College Prof Umar Farooq inaugurated the facility, the first of its kind in the local government hospitals.

Prof Umar emphasised better public awareness for thalassaemia prevention and said more and more people were getting infected with the inherited blood disorder due to lack of awareness.

He said precautionary measures against thalassaemia could save lives.

The dean urged media, ulema and NGOs to create public awareness of thalassaemia and said people should opt for pre-marriage screening for the disease and avoid family marriages.

He said the hospital had begun registration of thalassaemia patients and would provide them with blood transfusion services.

“The Pakistan Baitul Mal and some philanthropists have offered help for the centre,” he said, adding that blood donation camps will be held on a regular basis.

The ceremony was attended by Dr Shah Taj, Dr Naeema Afzal, Dr Romana, Dr Ammar, Tariq Tanoli of the Save Life Thalassaemia Children Pakistan, Haroon Khan Tanoli, Seth Shabbir, Asif Qureshi, Raja Arshad, Sajjad Paracha and others.

The dean later gave away gifts, shields and medicines to thalassaemia patients.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2021