Awareness rally, seminars mark World Thalassaemia Day in South Dinajpur

Balurghat: World Thalassaemia Day was celebrated on the premises of Balurghat district hospital on Wednesday. The programme was jointly organised by district health department and family welfare society of South Dinajpur.

The programme kicked-off with a Thalassaemia awareness rally from Balurghat Nursing College at 9 am and an awareness drama titled Jagaran was conducted by nursing students on the eve of World Thalassaemia Day.

A seminar on "Sustainable Voluntary Blood Donation Movement" was organised on Tuesday evening. Blood donors, various forums, NGOs, local social welfare clubs and nursing students took part in the seminar. District Magistrate of South Dinajpur Dr Deepap Priya P inaugurated a new vehicle for the district hospital. "May 8 is dedicated to thalassaemia patients. Blood transfusion gives life to such patients," the DM said.

Thalassaemia is a disorder which leads to weakening and destruction of the red blood cells. It affects the formation of haemoglobin in the body causing mild or severe anaemia.

South Dinajpur chief medical officer of health Dr Sukumar Day, who took part in World Thalassaemia Day celebrations at Balurghat district hospital, said: "Regular supply of blood is essential to fight the disease. We have shortage of blood in the two blood banks of the district. Several blood donation camps should be organised across the district to meet the requirement."

Several social welfare organisations such as Red-Cross Society, St John Ambulance, South Dinajpur Voluntary Blood Donors' Association, Ujjiban Society, Moran Unmilan, Nowpara Teor Samaj Kalyan Samiti, Nari Mukti Mohila Samiti took part in the programme.