SWAT: Health experts at a ceremony here on Sunday stressed the need for creating awareness among people to control thalassaemia.

They said that more than 100,000 patients were suffering from thalassaemia in the country and its major cause was lack of awareness.

The ceremony was held to mark World Thalassaemia Day under the slogan “Be Aware, Share, Care”. Health officials, social activists, youth and thalassaemia patients with their parents from different parts of Swat participated in the event. The event was organised by Al-Fajar Foundation in collaboration with Khpal Kor Foundation

The speakers said that it was alarming that the number of thalassaemia patients was on the rise in Malakand division as well as in the country. “Today at least seven in 100 Pakistani children suffer from thalassaemia. It is not a good sign. This is all because of lack of awareness on the part of parents as it passes from parents to children through genes,” said Dr Luqman.

The speakers said that every year at least 5,000 children were born with thalassaemia.

“Unfortunately, hundreds of children die every year due to thalassaemia and it is high time to devise a proper plan and take practical steps to save children from thalassaemia,” said Sarzamin Khan, head of Al-Fajar Foundation.

ACCIDENTS: Three people, including a woman and children, were killed and 16 others were injured in different traffic accidents here on Sunday.

According to police and Rescue1122, a car collided with a motorbike in Parrai area of Shamozo, killing a woman and five-year-old Shah Fahd, residents of Shergarh besides nine-year-old passerby Zohaib. One person was seriously injured in the accident.

In another accident in Parrai, four persons were injured when a car collided with a motorcycle.

Meanwhile, five persons were injured when a pick-up truck fell in a ravine in Chamtalai area of Khwazakhela while two persons were injured in collision between a jeep and a motorcycle in Manyar.

All the injured were shifted to hospitals for medical treatment by Rescue 1122.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2022