PESHAWAR
Jihad for Zero, a non-profit volunteer organization, claimed that approximately 5,000 children are diagnosed with thalassemia every year in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying one of the possible solutions to combat the health hazard is public awareness.
This was revealed by a team of Jihad for Zero Thalassemia Pakistan in a briefing to Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Mehsud.
The team, led by Director Global Affairs Asif Khan held a detailed discussion with Riaz Khan Mehsud on possible steps for spreading awareness drives in the division.
Commissioner Peshawar assured the representatives of the organization for support and collaboration on awareness programs in districts Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Khyber and Charassadda.
During the meeting, JZT senior volunteer and former provincial president Sanaul Rahman gave a detailed briefing on “Venture Thalassemia Free Peshawar”.
In the briefing, it was revealed that due to lack of awareness and intermarriage of minor sufferers of thalassemia.
The number of children with major thalassemia has reached 5,000 every year.
“Major thalassemia is an incurable disease and millions of rupees are spent on its treatment,” they added and said that despite the treatment, children suffering from major thalassemia die as soon as they reach the age of puberty.
Commissioner Peshawar Riaz Khan Mehsud took notice of the seriousness of the situation and decided to bring it to the attention of the provincial government.
He said that without the thalassemia test no domicile would be issued in Peshawar division, adding that the issue would be brought into the notice of the Chief Minister for effective implementation of preventive measures.
Deputy commissioners of all five districts of Peshawar division including district health officers and administrative officers of other related institutions were also called in the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mehsud said that the spread of thalassemia disease is due to public awareness and marriages without testing.
It is possible only through the prevention of which full efforts will be made to implement.
