‘Free blood test for Thalassemia patients at public hospitals’
Health and family welfare minister Mohammed Nasim on Wednesday said that Thalassemia patients could diagnose their blood free of cost at public hospitals in the country.
“All the public hospitals in the country would diagnose the blood of the patients with Thalassemia free of cost,” he said.
Nasim came up with observations while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural occasion of Thalassemia Awareness Programme in city’s Shahbagh area with director general of health services professor Abul Kalam Azad in the chair.
“The disease is spreading because of ignorance of people. Therefore, creating awareness is the need of the hour to get rid of this deadly but preventable disease.” Nasim said.
He also urged the well-off people of the country to come forward to help poor Thalassemia patients so that they could receive health facilitates.
“There is no dearth of rich people in our country...I would like to request them to come forward to help the government and the patients at the grassroots so that they could receive medical treatment,” the minister said.
“Ignorance of parents is one of the major reasons of growth of the most common genetic disorder, Thalassemia. Spreading of the disease can be controlled easily through genetic screening and counseling,” Azad said while talking to BSS.
“Thalassemia not only affects children, it also creates psychological and social problems in the family. To prevent life-long agony, all couples must get a genetic test before planning a child,” he added.
Regarding the coming general election, Nasim, also the Awami Lague Presidium Membar, said, “BNP should take part in the coming national election to be held as per the constitution...Awami League government does not have any intention to hold the election siding BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her party,”
Additional secretary of the ministry M Habibur Rahman and secretary general of Bangladesh Medical Association M Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury were present, among others.