Free HLA camp for thalassemic children organised by SRCC Children’s Hospital

MUMBAI, 11 MAY, 2023 (GPN):  Every year on the 8th of May, International Thalassemia Day is celebrated throughout the globe with the key objective of raising awareness among all- including the general masses and the decision-makers. For the last six years since SRCC Children’s Hospital, managed by Narayana Health started its journey, the institution has been observing International Thalassemia Day along with other important health days.

This year, the SRCC Children’s Hospital organised a free HLA camp for children with Thalassemia and their siblings on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day. 

“Transfusion To Transplant”, promoting the key objectives of ‘aware, care and share’ – remained the Theme for Thalassemia Day 2023 – we are working together towards this goal” – said Doctor Purna Kurkure, Head of The Department- Paediatric Haematology, Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant of SRCC Children’s hospital, managed by Narayana Health.

She said, “The whole idea behind organising an HLA camp was to initiate the process of cure. “When thalassemia is diagnosed in a child, the parents get shattered and they’ve to start the transfusion. However, they do not realize that it is only a symptomatic treatment and has its own hazards.  It is essential to raise awareness regarding the bone marrow transplant process and the avenues that are now available to these children.” 

The Hospital observed the day with the aim to introduce and promote the concept of ‘Transfusion to Transplant’, to eliminate the need for lifelong blood transfusions and drugs to control iron overload. To give this objective an effective shape, the hospital rolled out campaign- #TransfusionToTransplant. The hospital also organised an interactive session between thalassemia patients and their families, the children who had already undergone bone marrow transplant and the transplant experts. Their questions were answered by the pediatric PHO and BMT team at SRCC including Dr Ruchira Misra, Dr Shweta Bansal, Dr Chintan Vyas and Dr Kriti Hedge.Ends