World Thalassaemia Day 2024, Its Significance & History

World Thalassaemia Day 2024

May 8th is a significant day known as World Thalassaemia Day. It’s a day meant to teach people about a genetic problem called Thalassaemia. This problem makes it hard for the body to make enough of a vital thing called haemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen in our blood. People with Thalassaemia get this issue from their parents, and it means they don’t have enough proteins in their blood to carry oxygen. The main goal of World Thalassaemia Day is to help everyone understand this blood problem better and show support for those who have it.

World Thalassaemia Day Theme 2024

The theme of World Thalassaemia Day 2024 is ”Empowering Lives, Embracing Progress: Equitable and Accessible Thalassaemia Treatment for All.”

Significance of World Thalassemia Day 2024

This day is essential because it focuses on telling people about Thalassaemia, what causes it, and what signs to look for. It’s a chance to encourage everyone to live healthy lives to avoid getting Thalassaemia. Also, it highlights the difficulties people with Thalassaemia face and why it’s crucial to give them the right care and support. World Thalassaemia Day also reminds everyone about the need for ongoing research to improve how we treat Thalassaemia.

History of World Thalassaemia Day

The first World Thalassaemia Day happened in 1994, thanks to a group called the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF). This group, which helps people and families dealing with Thalassaemia worldwide, was started in 1986 by Mr. Panos Englezos and families from the UK, USA, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus. They created this day to remember Mr. Panos’ son, George, who passed away because of Thalassaemia. Since then, we have observed World Thalassaemia Day every year on May 8th to spread the word about Thalassaemia and how it affects people and families everywhere.

About Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is a genetic blood problem that affects how our body makes haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen. Haemoglobin has two parts, alpha and beta globin. People with Thalassaemia have a change in one or both genes that make alpha or beta globin, which means they can’t make enough of these proteins. This causes problems like anaemia and other health issues.

There are two main types of Thalassaemia: alpha and beta Thalassaemia.

• Alpha Thalassaemia: This happens when there’s an issue with the alpha globin gene, leading to less alpha globin being made.
• Beta Thalassaemia: Occurs when there’s a problem with the beta-globin gene, causing less or no beta globin to be produced.

How serious Thalassaemia is depended on the gene problem and how many genes are affected. People who get one changed gene from their parents are carriers and usually don’t show symptoms. But if someone gets two changed genes (one from each parent), they’ll have Thalassaemia and experience things like feeling tired, weak, having trouble breathing, pale skin, and yellow skin.

Thalassaemia is most common in places like the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for Thalassaemia yet, but there are treatments like blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants, and gene therapy. Finding Thalassaemia early and managing it well is crucial to help people with the disorder live a better life.

8th May 2024 Special Day

On May 8th, we commemorate a crucial occasion – World Thalassaemia Day. This day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness about a genetic condition known as Thalassaemia. This condition poses challenges for the body in producing an essential component called haemoglobin, crucial for oxygen transport in our bloodstream. Individuals inherit Thalassaemia from their parents, resulting in insufficient proteins in their blood to effectively carry oxygen. The primary objective of World Thalassaemia Day is to enhance understanding of this blood disorder and express solidarity with those grappling with it.

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