To prevent thalassemia in the region, Hamza Foundation Welfare Hospital began blood screening, a test done in early pregnancy to detect inherited abnormalities in unborn offspring. The test is first of its kind in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. So far 284 pregnant women from thalassemia affected families went through chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test, which is a form of parental diagnosis to determine genetic disorder in unborn child.

72 pregnancies were aborted after these unborn were diagnosed to thalassemia major and these abortions were done in the light of Fatwa issued by Maulana Mufti Taqi Usmani and after giving awareness to the concerned parents, whose other children are already suffering from blood disorder.

The founder of Hamza Foundation, Ijaz Ali Khan and Medical Director Dr Tariq Khan said that CVS test is being done with the support of hematologist Maj Gen (Retd) Suhaib Ahmed. We will do the screening of 1126 affected families, whose children are registered with us, they said. Ijaz Khan said due to thalassemia, not only the patients and their parents suffer the most, but they are also considered a burden on the society.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019