In order to highlight and deliberate on the issues related to the Thalassemia patients, J&K Thalassemia Welfare Society (JKTWS) organized a function at Jammu Club here today.Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat was chief guest whileas Principal GMC, Dr. Zahid A. Gillani was guest of honour on the occasion. The main objective of the function was to discuss in detail the issues related to the Thalassemia, to encourage the patients and their attendants and to educate about the treatment and facilities available for them. Several speakers deliberated in length and sought more steps to help the identified patients.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Thalassemia is a great challenge before the Government and society and called for stringent efforts to deal with the patients suffering with it. He said the Government has already flagged this disease in special category and taken several measures to deal with the patients, including granting a financial aid at Rs. 35,000/- annually. He said Government has already released Rs.15.00 lakh to Government Medical College, Jammu for strengthening the diagnostic facilities for the treatment of the Thalassemia patients. The Thalassemia Centre at SMGS hospital has been created to help the patients. He said the Government has designated two doctors to exclusively attend and facilitate the Thalassemai patients one each at Jammu and Srinagar GMCs.
The Minister called for stepping up awareness campaign to educate the masses about the disease and its preventive measures. He also lauded the efforts of the JKTWS for the noble cause and said that other social organizations should also come forward and play their role in helping the mankind and needy. He said the Government of India will be approached for providing more funds to help the patients by way of providing free medicines, screening of patients, conducting tests etc. He said the Government of India has also included the Thalassemia patients in the Divyang(Disabled) category to rehabilitate them appropriately.President JKTWS, Er. Sudhir Sethi highlighted the achievements of the organization and said that as many as 348 patients are registered with the society, who are getting treatment in the day care centre at SMGS hospital with the necessary facilitation of the society. He said the society was established during the year 1996 and since then, it has been working for the welfare of the Thalassemia patients voluntarily. The society is carrying out various activities like awareness camps in educational institutions about the disease, facilitating patients for their regular check-ups, screening, investigations, and blood donation camps for the patients and working in close coordination with the health department to facilitate the patients suffering with this incurable disease. He expressed his gratitude to the department of health & medical education for extending whole hearted support to the society to its efforts for helping the patients.
Those who are actively involved in the functioning of society as advisors to deal with the Thalassemia patients for making the society free from this disease included, Dr. K.K. Koul, HoD Pathology, Dr. Rekha Harish, HoD Pediatrics, Dr. Vijay Sawhney, HoD Blood Transfusion Department, Dr. Dara Singh, Medical Superintendent, SMGS and several other prominent medicos.Dr. K.K. Koul presented vote of thanks and highlighted the role of the JKTWS and its team. He said the society has been doing yeoman’s service for the patients of Thalassemia in Jammu and Kashmir. He suggested several measures to further strengthen the diagnostic facilities for the Thalassemia patients in the Day Care Centre at SMGS hospital and stressed the need for coordinated approach to make the Thalassemia-free society.The Minister also honored the functionaries associated with the society by presenting them mementoes.Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, HoDs GMC, Dr. Rekah Harish, Dr. Vijay Sawhney, Medical Superintendent, SMGS, Dr. Dara Singh, functionaries of JKTWS including, Rajinder Pathak, Shammi Kapoor, Puneet Gandotra, Narinder Mahajan, V.P. Sharma, patients and their attendants.