PESHAWAR:
Pakistan is no stranger to thalassemia, a serious blood disorder. According to the Hamza Foundation, over 8,000 children are born with thalassemia annually, and around 60 per cent of them are from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Now, it seems, a new game changer in the form of a medicine known as Hydroxyurea, has emerged. The foundation reveals that over 25 patients have successfully gotten rid of their crippling, constant need for blood transfusions, while 140 sufferers now just need half the transfusions that they needed merely nine months ago.
Containing a malady
Dr Tariq Khan, a medical officer at the Hamza Foundation Welfare Hospital, says that the treatment of this deadly disease – a way to treat thalassemia without blood infusions – was discovered after 10 years of gruelling research by Dr Saqib Hussain Ansari of the Omair Sana Foundation in Karachi.
Hydroxyurea started being used by the Hamza Foundation in January, 2013.
“This medicine was first used only for cancer patients but, after research, doctors succeeded in experimentally using it for thalaseemia patients, as well,” Tariq explains.
According to him, the majority of patients belong to poor families, and it’s very difficult to afford blood transfusions every 15 to 20 days. This medicine addresses these worries, too – priced at Rs8 per tablet, and easily available at pharmaceutical shops, it is a godsend for low income patients.
Muhammad Arif Khan, a father of two daughters – Maria, aged 9 and Bushra, aged 4 – has travelled to this hospital all the way from Swabi.
“He would have to come to our organization every 15 or 20 days for Maria’s transfusion but for nine months she hasn’t needed this,” explains Tariq.
Muhammad now says that they will start administering the medicine to Bushra in a year, when she turns 5, which is when a patient can start taking it.
“I am a tailor by profession and cannot afford the high expenses of transfusion for two daughters,” says Muhammad quietly. “This treatment is great.”
In 2013 alone, more than 940 patients have registered with the Hamza Foundation, out of which 807 patients are suffering from thalassemia, 87 from hemophilia and 46 from other blood related diseases.
Made into law
Ejaz Khan, the founder and chairman of the Hamza Foundation, says this is the first time successful treatment of thalassemia using medication has been undertaken by an organisation.
Legislation that focuses on genetic screening before marriage, or monitors cousin marriage, has been passed in Iran, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Cyprus. Because of this, many families today are protected from genetic diseases including thalassemia.
According to Ejaz, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government should implement the Thalassemia Bill 2010, which will hopefully fulfill a similar purpose as the legislation in other counties, to contain the spread of the disease.
“Even though the legislation was passed in the assembly during the time of the previous government, it has yet to be implemented,” Ejaz laments.
Thalassemia is a serious blood disease that begins in early childhood. Patients do not eat well, cannot sleep and vomit frequently after feedings. If thalassemia major goes untreated, children usually die between one and eight years of age, explains Ejaz.
According to him, the foundation is making huge efforts to facilitate free medical services to the poor and deserving, and a large number of people are supporting the organisation in this regard.
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