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Time of India

Nagpur doctors unite to raise awareness on thalassemia

1 2 3 Nagpur: An open forum was held on World Thalassemia Day. With a mission to unite communities and prioritise patients, leading city doctors came together to raise awareness about the genetic blood disorder that continues to affect thousands of children across Central Academy of Paediatrics (AOP) Nagpur, in collaboration with the Thalassaemia & Sickle Cell Centre and Indian Medical Association (IMA) Nagpur, organised a public forum on the theme 'Together for Thalassemia – Uniting Communities, Prioritising Patients' at IMA event witnessed active participation from medical professionals and families of patients. Among the dignitaries present were Dr Uday Bodhankar, patron of AOP Nagpur, Dr Vinky Rughwani, director of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre, Dr Rajesh Sawarbandhe, president of IMA Nagpur, Dr Shilpa Hazare, president of AOP Nagpur, and Dr Kailash Vaidya, secretary, AOP Nagpur." Thalassemia Major is preventable. A simple blood test before marriage can stop this suffering before it begins," emphasised Dr Vinky Rughwani, urging the govt to launch a Thalassemia Mission on the lines of the Sickle Cell Mission. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far "While we facilitated over 50 free bone marrow transplants and tested over 55,000 youths, our goal is to ensure no child is ever born with this condition," he Rughwani also highlighted a major policy breakthrough — a 5% reservation in education now available to Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients after these disorders were recognised as disabilities. Dr Shilpa Hazare, president of AOP Nagpur, said, "As paediatricians, we strongly believe that awareness must begin early. If every school-going child is educated about genetic conditions like thalassemia, we can build a generation that makes informed marital and reproductive choices."Veteran paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar stressed the need for mandatory premarital screening and urged the govt to incorporate Thalassemia education into school curricula. "This is not just a medical issue — it's a social one. A few moments of testing can save families from decades of pain," he experts at the forum explained how Thalassemia Major requires lifelong blood transfusions, sometimes up to four units a month, along with expensive medication. While a bone marrow transplant remains the only curative option, its high cost (Rs15 lakh or more) keeps it out of reach for forum wasn't just about facts and figures — it had its emotional moments too. Several children battling thalassemia attended the event, their bright eyes and cheerful smiles lighting up the thalassemia patients are getting?* 5% educational reservation* Genetic Digital Blood Match App* Support for screening and counselling* Free blood transfusions and medicines* Disability certificates and benefits* Bone Marrow Transplant Surgery support