Speakers at one-day seminar urged the people to donate blood to save lives as every drop was worth a smile and prevention was the only hope against Thalassemia. The seminar, on the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Hamdard University, was held yesterday on the theme: “Thalassemia awareness”, organized by Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University in collaboration with Hussaini Blood Bank at Bait al-Hikmah auditorium, Madinat al-Hikmah, Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest and Head of Hussaini Blood Bank, Prof. Dr. Syed Sarfaraz H. Jaffery said that the medicines of Alternative Medicine were getting popular throughout the world and its medicine “Lasona” in many countries and Hamdard’s “Garlina” in Pakistan were being prescribed by the physicians. So it was a natural need that alternative medicines should be promoted in Pakistan, he added.

He said that having seen the 3D Model Competition and posters presentations, of students of Faculty of Eastern Medicine he could observe that tibbi medicines could be effective in the treatment of Thalassemia and good education and training together with research were being imparted to medical students in Hamdard.

‘Education gives knowledge and application of knowledge is resulted in skills which make a man a perfect professional’, he maintained. ‘Thalassemia is not a simple disease, but a syndrome of many symptoms. However, it appears at the age of six months, because at this stage of age hemoglobin is made. Iron gets in abundance in thalassemia’s patient which goes in any part of the body, and creates problems for the patient, he said, adding: ‘the deficiency of insulin, created in the thalassemia patient, makes him/her diabetic’. ‘Bone marrow is the engine of the body and transformation of blood is the remedy of the thalassemia patient. For the disease is transferred from parents, it is suggested that medical checkup before marriage should be made compulsory and be made mandatory for nikahnama’, he asserted.

He lamented people didn’t donate blood and 20/22 bottles were yearly needed by Hussaini Blood Bank whereas we could be able to collect 13/14 bottles only. He emphasized on the liaison of Hamdard and Hussaini Trust.

Dr. Umer Daraz, Pathologist, Hussaini Blood Bank said that thalassemia was the name of disorder of blood hemoglobin and it needed lot of blood during its treatment. ‘There are three types of thalassemia 1) minor, 2) intermediate and 3) major. Without understanding the structure of hemoglobin the complications of thalassemia could not be understood, because hemoglobin was created in cells of bone marrow and genetics played major role in the case of thalassemia, he added.

Prof. Dr. Tabeeba Tasneem Qureshi, Principal, Hamdard Al-Majeed College of Eastern Medicine said that the faculty, according to the vision of its founder, Hakim Mohammed Said has been functioning to give relief to the ailing people and organizing free medical camps, awareness lectures, screening camps on Hepatitis C, Helicobacter Pylori, Eczema, Psychological assessment, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Diabetes. Today we were gathered here for seminar regarding Thalassemia Awareness, she added and urged people to donate blood, as according to researchers, donating blood every four months was an excellent practice to maintain good health.

Prof. Dr. Shabibul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, Hamdard University while addressing the seminar said that first and foremost step to be taken to eliminate Thalassemia was to create the awareness about the reasons of this disease. This seminar was no doubt a good effort to achieve this purpose and it was exactly in line with the mission and vision of Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said who had made ‘service to humanity’ the main goal of Hamdard. Hamdard University would continue its cooperation with Hussaini Blood Bank and other organizations to curb this disease in future, he informed.

Prof. Dr. Tabiba Saima Ghayas offered vote of thanks. Posters and 3D Model Competition was also held on the occasion. Chief guest Prof. Dr. Jaffry, guests of honour Dr. Umer Daraz and Dr. Hafeezullah Mangi and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shabibul Hasan gave away the prizes and appreciation certificates to the winners of posters and models competition and to the students who participated in seminar. Prof. Dr. Shabibul Hasan presented the shield of replica of holy Prophet (p.b.u.h)’s seal and university shields to Dr. Umer Daraz and Dr. Mangi. Besides physicians, teachers and students attended the seminar in a large number.