76pc of adults have thalassaemia: Director

Kota Kinabalu: The public is urged to do an early screening test for Thalassaemia at hospitals and nearby clinics for early detection of the hereditary disease.Thalassaemia is a hereditary disease that could be inherited through genes regardless of race and gender, and thus everybody must undergo a screening test for it before they get married.

"Early screening tests could help reduce the prevalence of the disease and ensure that future generations do not inherit it," said Queen Elizabeth Hospital Director Dr. Heric Corray when officiating the hospital's World Thalassaemia Day event attended by 500 of its senior officials and staff here, Friday.

"Record showed that in general, 76 per cent of adult population in the country has thalassaemia, but only 26 per cent have undergone screening test," he added.

Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the body's ability to produce haemoglobin and red blood cells, leading to a condition known as anaemia and fatigue.

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Thalassemia's patients have a lower than normal number of red blood cells in their bodies and too little haemoglobin at less than 10 gram per decilitre, and in many cases the red blood cells are too small.

Patients who has the Thalassaemia genes are categorised as a Thalassaemia major and requires continuous blood transfusion on a monthly basis.

The treatment has its setbacks however whereby it will cause the accumulation of iron in the vital organs such as the heart, liver and endocrine glands, thus resulting in multiple organ malfunctions.

The Health Ministry and hospitals are constantly organising various thalassemia awareness programme to the public and hospitals' staff.

Heric urged the public and staff of QEH to play their roles in disseminating information on the hereditary disease to help reduce the possibility of future generations inheriting the disease.

The programme themed 'Towards Zero Thalassemia Major Generation' (Ke Arah Generasi Sifar Talasemia Major), was organised by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Hematology Unit and the Sabah Thalassemia Association.

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Besides talks and sharing by Thalassemia patients, various other activities were held during the one-day programme including Blood Donation Campaign, Thalassaemia Screening, exhibitions, Thalassaemia Workshops for thalassaemia patients and other public awareness activities related to Thalassaemia.

Also present at the ceremony was Chairman of the Thalassaemia Association of Sabah Francis Mujim.

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