ZP to screen thalassaemia patients

NASHIK: The health department of zilla parishad would soon start screening of thalassemia patients on the lines of those suffering from sickle cell diseases. The programme would involve reaching out to the rural population and screening of people through a door-to-door approach with the help of teams formed in collaboration with NGOs and treating the patients.
District health officer Sushil Wakchaure said about 1.5% of the world’s total population were thalassemia carriersm, of which about 40 million alone were from south east Asia and 20 million from India.“The mean occurrence in India is 3.3% and hence the gravity of the disease has been considered. Worldwide, there are more than 100, 000 thalassemic children born every year, and 10,000 of them are from India alone. Moreover, there are additional 65,000-67,000 patients suffering from Beta Thalassemia in the country and only 10-15% get optimal treatment,” he added.
Speaking about the communities involved, Wakchaure said Punjabis, Sindhis, migrants from Pakistan —Khatris and Khukrajas, a sizeable population from Bihar, Orrisa, communities like Lohanas, Baniyas, Bhanushalis, Khatiyawadis among Gujaratis, Kolies, Kunbisa and Agris among Maharahstrians, Goudas, Saraswats, Lingayats and Koorgs among Karnataka and Saraswats and Gouds among Goans were most prone to the disease.
The patients require timely attention to control the disease. Also, blood transfusion is an issue that arises in rural areas. Such patients need to be screened and accordingly requirement of blood has to be procured for the transfusion, the official said.
“Blood transfusion is applicable to children only above 18 months and the hemoglobin count among them has to be maintained all the time. Transfusion also has to be carried out precisely. Around 10 to 15 ml/kg of packed red cells is to be transfused every 3 to 4 weeks and the rate should not exceed more than 5ml/kg/hr. For patients with cardiac dysfunction not more than 2-3ml/kg/hr blood transfusion rate should exceed,” Wakchaure said.
He added that the programme would be initiated soon and talks with private blood banks are on for collaboration.