To commemorate the World Thalassemia Day, Pediatrics Department on behalf of SGRD Thalassemia Welfare Society organized series of event at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences. S. Parminder Singh Bhandal, DCP Amritsar flagged an awareness walk organized by SGRD University of Health Sciences started from outside Bharawan Da Dhabha and gone towards Information Office, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Sri Amritsar through Heritage Street.On this occasion S. Parminder Singh Bhandal elated to see the enthusiasm of the students in the rally and said International Thalassemia Day is observed across the globe to create awareness among people regarding thalassemia and how it can be prevented. He added people should carry out hemoglobin electrophoresis test before marriage to prevent spread of the disease. He lauded the efforts made by Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences to aware the people about thalassemia disease.
On this occasion Dr Gursharan Singh Narang, Secretary Thalassemia Society said that thalassemia disease is a genetically transmitted by both parents who carry the Thalassemia gene and their medical condition is called Thalassemia carrier and are physically normal so it may go undetected throughout life. He said the serious disease Thalassemia major occurs in 25 percent of their children, it should not really happen and children suffer because of unawareness in the society. He added girls and boys should be tested for Thalassemia [Hemoglobin A2] in a simple blood sample before marriage and if they are found positive, they should not marry a person who is also a Thalassemia carrier, thus children born with Thalassemia major disease will not be born. He said in case both parents do have carrier and have a pregnancy, the fetus should be tested at about 10 weeks after conception and the disease can be detected. In such a condition medical termination of pregnancy is justified.A blood donation camp was also held at SGRD Blood Bank. More than 100 person including various faculty members and students donated blood for thalassemia patients. They were awarded certificates and refreshment were given.
The walk was participated by Doctors, MBBS and Nursing students. On this occasion Dr. Manjit Singh Uppal, Director Principal, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Sri Amritsar, Dr. Anupama Mahajan, Vice Principal, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Sri Amritsar, Dr. Gursharan Singh Narang, Prof. & Head, Department of Paediatrics, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Sri Amritsar, S. Amandeep Singh, Deputy Registrar, Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Sri Amritsar, MBBS & Nursing Students and other eminent personalities were present. SGRD University of Health Sciences is going to conduct an enormous seminar on 12th May 2022 on the above theme. Patients who are getting treatment for thalassemia disease will tell their story to encourage others. World famous actor S. Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi will be the Chief Guest on the occasion, who will encourage the thalassemia patients.