Thalassaemia day-care centre to open today

The Government Wenlock Hospital will open a six-bed day-care centre for thalassaemia patients on Tuesday.

Hospital Superintendent H.R. Rajeshwaridevi said the centre will operate on the second floor of the Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre. It will move to the ground floor of the hospital’s new medical block that will be ready by October.

Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder commonly characterised by the abnormal production of haemoglobin in the body. The abnormality results in improper oxygen transport and destruction of red blood cells that has wide-ranging effects on the human body. Regular blood transfusion has been found to be an effective measure to prolong the life of such patients.

Dr. Rajeshwaridevi said the hospital will run the centre with the Bengaluru-based Sankalp India Foundation (SIF), Indian Women’s Association (IWA) in Kuwait, Seva Bharati and Kalpa Trust. The centre will provide total care of children suffering from thalassaemia by giving them iron chelation tablets and arranging a screening facility. District Early Intervention Officer and Nodal Officer for Hemoglobinopathies U.V. Shenoy will oversee the working of the centre, she said.