Thalassaemia screening vital: Yap
Published on: Sunday, May 15, 2016
Tawau: Higher Education Deputy Minister Datuk Mary Yap said thalassaemia screening is important for young couples tying the knot to control the increasing number of patients in the State. She said Sabah is known to have the highest number of patients with one patient for every 13 people recorded with the blood disorder condition, which is passed down through families."Thalassaemia is an inherited disorder and knows no race, male or female. Thus, it is important for young couples to undergo thalassaemia screening before they tie the knot," she said in her speech in conjunction with World Thalassaemia Day celebration, here, Saturday.
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Based on hospital records, some 1,000 patients undergo blood transfusion every month in all hospitals across Sabah with the number expected to increase if not controlled. Last year, patients used up to 439 blood bags and around 200 bags had already been utilised until April this year, Mary pointed out. Also present at the event was Tawau Hospital Director Dr Norlimah Arsad and the hospital's head of paediatric, Dr Sandeep Sing Gill. Meanwhile, Dr Norlimah said the number of thalassaemia patients in Tawau increased to 69 from 66 patients recorded in 2015.
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