The Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) and Marham have conducted a one-of-its-kind support and screening symposium on thalassemia today at Hotel Marigold. The event was aimed to raise awareness about thalassemia, a critical issue affecting countless families worldwide, and emphasized the significance of prevention through prenatal diagnosis to ensure a future free from thalassemia.

Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder, poses significant challenges for families at risk, but with proactive screening and prenatal diagnosis, the birth of thalassemia-affected children can be prevented, fostering a brighter and healthier future for generations to come.

Distinguished experts and prominent doctors in the field of medicine graced the symposium with their presence and shared their invaluable insights. Dr. MANJULA ANAGANI (Padmashri Awardee – Consultant obstetrician & Gynecologist Clinical Director & HOD, Care Hospital), Dr. RAMANA DANDAMUDI Pediatric Hematologist & Oncologist, Little Star Hospital, Dr. BALAMBA Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Shalini Hospital, Dr. PRAJNYA RANGANATH Add. Professor& HOD, Medical Genetics (NIMS), Dr. KRISHNA RSV Consultant Pediatrics, Ankura Hospital, Gachibowli, Dr. ISHA POLAVARAPU MD Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion Consultant, Yashoda Hospital, Dr. CHINMAYEE RATHA Fetal Medicine Specialist, A senior Gynaecologist from Mumbai Dr. P. G. Natrajan along with Dr. SUMAN JAIN Chief Medical Research Officer & CEO, TSCS, Hyderabad have participated in the panel talk.

Dr. Chandrakant Agarwal, President of TSCS, expressed his enthusiasm for this collaborative symposium, stating, “Preventing thalassemia is not just a medical challenge, it is a responsibility towards building a healthier society. By uniting medical professionals and raising awareness, we can create a future where thalassemia becomes a thing of the past.”

Dr. Suman Jain, Secretary of the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS), presented a comprehensive overview of the current state of thalassemia screening initiatives and emphasized the pivotal role of early detection in ensuring a better quality of life for thalassemia carriers and affected families. She said that “Thalassemia is a preventable condition, one can do it by taking HbA2 test before or after pregnancy. Our main moto is make India and the state of Telangana a Thalassemia free. Through this joint initiative, we aim to ignite a spark of awareness that will lead to more compassionate and proactive healthcare practices”.

Adding to the symposium’s prestige, Padmashri Awardee Dr. Manjula Anagani, an esteemed authority in the medical community, shared her ground-breaking research on advancements in prenatal diagnosis techniques.

“I am honoured to be a part of this remarkable initiative by NGO Marham and Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Society. In India, every year 1-1.25 lakh Thalassemia cases are reported, 42 million carriers are India and 10,000 to 15,000 children are diagnosed with Thalassemia or born with Thalassemia condition. India is known as Capital of Thalassemia.   Countries like USA and UK, have really good medical infrastructure, because almost all the medical expenses covered by the government only. By universal screening in all states of India, we can make our India and Telangana Thalassemia free. We request the government to support this initiative by making HbA2 test mandatory in all the hospitals, and possibly keep it affordable to everyone. I must say the cost of screening is less than the cost of treatment. So everyone should think of it and should make Thalassemia screening mandatory”  said  Padmashri Awardee Dr. Manjula Anagani.

A special panel discussion which wass also arranged on the sidelines of the symposium hosted eminent panelists who spoke about the current situation of Thalassemia in our country and also how it can be improved with the collaborative efforts of the healthcare experts and government bodies.

Thalassemia Screening serves as a stepping stone in the journey towards a brighter future for families at risk of thalassemia. It underscores the importance of collaborative efforts and continued dedication to raise awareness, support research, and implement effective screening programs globally.