Mysuru: JSS Hospital, Mysuru, along with Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, had organised Thalassemia awareness camp and seminar at JSS Hospital here recently.

The seminar was inaugurated by Thalassemia kids along with Dr. M.D. Ravi, Dr. Sunil Bhat, Dr. Shobha Badiger, Dr. P.  Pallavi and Dr. B.K. Rashmi.

Dr. Ravi, Director, JSS Hospital, briefed about the services provided to Thalassemia at JSS Hospital and informed that more than 50 Thalassemia patients are treated by regular blood transfusion free of cost at JSS.

Dr. Sunil Bhat, Senior Consultant and Head, Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, Narayana Health City Bengaluru, delivered the keynote address. He said that people with Thalassemia make less haemoglobin and have fewer circulating red blood cells than normal, which results in anaemia requiring lifelong blood transfusions.

Dr. Sunil Bhat said that this disorder could be prevented by undergoing certain tests of individuals before their marriage to ascertain the genes they carry with respect to Thalassemia.

Dr. Shobha Badiger, Consultant – Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation; Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, spoke about the importance of dietary management in Thalassemia. She enlightened about the iron chelation therapy to avoid complications due to iron overload in Thalassemia patients owing to repeated blood transfusions.

Dr. P. Pallavi, Blood Bank Officer, JSS Hospital, spoke about the facilities available in the Blood Bank in providing safe and adequate blood supply to Thalassemia patients.

The seminar was followed by interaction with the patients and consultants. Various questions about pre-transfusion haemoglobin value, availability of iron chelating drugs, Bone marrow facility at Narayana Health and funding means were discussed.

In all, 45 Thalassemia patients along with their parents attended the seminar. The seminar was followed by a screening camp and consultations with Dr. Sunil Bhat and Dr. Shobha Badiger arranged by Narayana Health and JSS Hospital.