FAiTh – Fight Against Thalassemia – A Patients & Parents Association conducted Patients & Parents Session at Thalassemia Ward in Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital on Thursday 27th June 2019

The session was attended by patients, parents & staff of Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital & Regional Blood Center.

Initially 700 patients were registered at BVH, after starting of Regional Blood Center Bahawalpur in December 2017 the number started to increase and at the moment 2700 patients are now registered with the Thalassemia unit.

Due to not enough space on the floor, 4 to 5 patients have to share a single bed.

Before Regional Blood Center patients had to struggle a lot for blood and hospital blood bank was unable to provide them timely blood transfusions, Regional Blood Center since December has started to provide safe & screened blood to the thalassemia patients according to their need without any charges and without any donor.

On daily basis Regional Blood Center is providing 50+ blood pints and on Thursday they provide 100+ blood pints.

Among 2700 patients, 100 patients are getting iron chelation medicines from government on monthly basis. Government is providing them tablet Asunra.

We met 100+ patients on our visit, briefed them about how can they take better care of themselves, how they can maintain their hemoglobin and ferritin, about prevention, about FAiTh Patient Support Group, how can they spread awareness & how can they help themselves & thalassemia center regarding blood donations.

We distributed gifts and informative material among them. All the patients loved their gifts.

Bahawalpur, is a city located in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Bahawalpur is the 11th largest city in Pakistan with an estimated population of 798,509 FAiTh team traveled for 835.4 km (12 hours) with climate 39-42 degree celsius to reach the destination.

We are thankful to our district coordinator Adil Shah & his team for the wonderful work they are doing in Bahawalpur & Uch Shareef for the welfare of thalassemia patients.

We are also thankful to BVH Thalassemia Unit staff for giving us chance to interact with patients & parents, for the arrangements & support.