AWARENESS SEMINAR ON NATIONAL THALASSEMIA PREVENTION DAY CONDUCTED AT FATIMA JINNAH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

Health Minister Punjab Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal along with the faculty welcomed Punjab Health Minister Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid.

The Punjab government has established the Punjab Thalassemia and Other Genetic Disorder Prevention and Research Institute for the prevention of thalassemia and other Genetic diseases. Under this institution, complete facilities for the prevention and eradication of thalassemia and other hereditary diseases are provided free of cost, including Thalassemia Blood Testing, Genetic Counseling, Prenatal Diagnosis, Pre-Marriage Thalassemia Testing and DNA Laboratory.

In the welcome address, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal thanked Chief Guest Minister of Health Punjab & Founder of Thalassemia Program in Pakistan Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid and President of Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Moinuddin Haider for participation in Seminar. He said that the Health Minister Punjab Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid has played a key role in the establishment of World’s Best Prevention Program “Punjab Thalassemia and Other Genetic Disorder Prevention and Research Institute”. Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal further apprised that prevention is better than cure and the best example of this is the Todays Seminar on #Thalassemia Prevention Day.

He further said that Awareness, Preventive Measures and Counseling are very important in this disease. He further informed that International Experts and Hunterian Prof. Dr. Umar Sadat also visited Punjab Thalassemia Institute. They were also very impressed by the world-class facilities of this institution. He further said that Punjab Thalassemia Institute is providing facilities to affected patients not only in Lahore but in all 36 districts of Punjab.

President, Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider in his online address, thanked Health Minister Punjab Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Vice-Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal and all the participants.

In his address, he said that the easiest and most effective way to prevent thalassemia is to follow preventive measures and all the countries around the world could control this disease through preventive measures. In Pakistan, the awareness regarding thalassemia has increased in the past years. He further said that diagnosis of thalassemia minor in boy and girl before marriage is of utmost importance.

Chief Guest Health Minister Punjab Prof. Dr. Yasmin Rashid said in her address that she dreamed of eliminating thalassemia and other genetic diseases, which Alhamdulillah has become a reality today. She further said that 7% of Pakistan’s population are thalassemia carrier and Pakistan is the only country in the world that can diagnose thalassemia before birth. The WORLD,S LARGEST Prevention Program is currently affiliated with Fatima Jinnah Medical University. At the end of her address, she thanked President, Thalassemia Federation of Pakistan Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Moinuddin Haider, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal and all the societies associated with Thalassemia.