International Thalassaemia day is celebrated every year on May 8

International Thalassaemia day is celebrated every year on May 8

The International Thalassaemia Day, celebrated annually on the 8th of May, is a commemoration day in honour of all patients with thalassaemia and their parents who have never lost hope for life, despite the burden of their disease, and to all scientists who, with tireless dedication and enduring efforts, are striving to ensure an improved quality of life to people with thalassaemia across the world.

Thalassaemia belongs to a family of genetic conditions affecting the human blood, known as Haemoglobin disorders or Haemoglobinopathies. Haemoglobin disorders are a group of conditions affecting haemoglobin, an important substance or protein of the human blood contained in the red blood cells, hence the name haemoglobin disorders or haemoglobinopathies.

Haemoglobin disorders, including thalassaemia are an international concern. It is estimated that 7% of the world population is a carrier of a severe haemoglobin disorder and 300,000 -500,000 children are born with a severe haemoglobin disorder each year. Research advances in the clinical care of thalassaemia have managed to transform thalassaemia from a fatal disease of childhood that it once was into a chronic, yet well-managed disease, increasing patients’ survival rate and improving their quality of life.

Thalassemia is a disease that is passed down through a mutation in the genes. When two persons who have Thalassemia traits but may not display any symptoms, it is possible that they produce children with Thalassemia.