Thalassemia free Telangana programme held in Hyd

Continuous Medical Education (CME), a symposium focusing on “Thalassemia Free Telangana,” and “Thalassemia Prevention – A Prick Away,” was held recently in Hyderabad. Medical professionals from the city attended the event.

In his opening remarks, Dr Chandrakant Agarwal, president of TSCS Hyderabad, acknowledged the collective effort of Gynecologists and Obstetricians in making Telangana Thalassemia-free.

The CME serves as a crucial step in an effort to eradicate Thalassemia from Telangana, with the focus on preventive measures, Dr Agarwal said further adding that "Thalassemia prevention is just a prick away," summarizing the simplicity and efficacy of preventive measures in combating this

genetic disorder. Scientific sessions held during the symposium included, "Antenatal Screening: A Beacon in Thalassemia Battle," and "Breaking the Chain: Prenatal Diagnosis and Antenatal Screening." The panel discussions were aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills in Thalassemia prevention, Dr Agarwal informed.

He emphasised the urgency of early screening, advocating for policies mandating HbA2 testing during the first trimester of pregnancy to prevent the birth of Thalassemia major children.

The CME on Thalassemia is part of TSCS's (Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society) ongoing efforts to eradicate Thalassemia from Telangana and create a Thalassemia-free state. Under this initiative, TSCS has facilitated over 243,433 blood transfusions, 131 successful bone marrow transplantations, 353 Prenatal Diagnosis procedures, 73 Medical Termination of Pregnancy procedures, and 690 T2 MRI scans. Furthermore, the organisation has organised 3,160 blood donation camps, conducted a total of 20,904 HBA2 tests, and achieved a registration count of 3,909 individuals.