Red alert in Thalassaemia areas

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The blood testing program conducted by the National Centre for Thalassaemia in Kurunegala is focusing on the red alert areas of the Kurunegala district.

We suspect that these areas might have a high prevalence of Thalassaemia carriers as we register a high number of patients from these areas, said Dr. Ashok Perera, Medical Officer-in-Charge of the National Centre.

The Centre has identified Ibbagamuwa, Polpithigama, Ambanpola, Ehetuwewa and Giribawa MOH areas of the Kurunegala district. According to Dr. Perera carrier screening tests have already commenced in Ibbagamuwa and over 60 percent has been completed. So far the Centre has already tested 72,900 people including other MOH areas of the district such as Panduwasnuwara and Kurunegala. Among them 8 percent have been identified as Thalassaemia carriers, said Dr. Perera.

Today, on the world Thalassaemia Day the National Centre will be opening a special unit for children affected by Thalassaemia built by adult thalassaemic patients and staff members of the thalassaemia centre.